Digital Commons @ George Fox University

Title

Structured Voluntary Youth Activities and Positive Outcomes in Adulthood: An Exploratory Study of Involvement in Scouting and Subjective Well-Being

Authors

Sung Joon Jang, Baylor University
Byron R. Johnson, Baylor University
Young-Il Kim, George Fox UniversityFollow
Edward C. Polson, Baylor University
Buster G. Smith, Catawba College

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2014

Abstract

This study explores whether youth involvement in Scouting has positive consequences later in life. We examine whether the number of years of participation in Scouting is positively associated with human and social capital and recreational lifestyles in adulthood, and whether these are linked to subjective well-being: relational, emotional, and physical health. To explore this potential relationship, we estimated a structural equation model, analyzing data from a national sample of adult males. We found that youth involvement in Scouting is positively related to subjective well-being indirectly via the positive adult outcomes.

Comments

Originally published in Sociological Focus 47(4):238–67.

https://doi.org/10.1080/00380237.2014.939926

Recommended Citation

Jang, Sung Joon; Johnson, Byron R.; Kim, Young-Il; Polson, Edward C.; and Smith, Buster G., "Structured Voluntary Youth Activities and Positive Outcomes in Adulthood: An Exploratory Study of Involvement in Scouting and Subjective Well-Being" (2014). Faculty Publications - Department of World Languages, Sociology & Cultural Studies. 34.
https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/lang_fac/34