MSU research shows importance of quality out-of-school activities

MSU News Service

2/14/01 -  BOZEMAN—Montana kids who participate in organized out-of-school activities are better off in several ways than kids who aren’t involved in such activities, according to a Montana State University study.

A research team led by Kirk Astroth of the MSU Extension Service and George Haynes of the MSU Department of Health and Human Development surveyed 2,500 Montana youth in fifth, seventh and ninth grades from 21 randomly selected counties. They discovered that youth who are involved in structured out-of-school activities reported that they are less likely to get drunk, shoplift or steal, purposely damage property for the fun of it, use drugs to get high, smoke cigarettes, skip school without permission, or engage in other at-risk behaviors.

“How kids spend their time outside of school can make a substantial difference,” says Haynes.

Though the difference for fifth-graders was minimal, the risks grow steadily as students get older. Ninth grade students who do not participate in any out-of-school activities reported that they are:

-- twice as likely to smoke cigarettes

-- seven times more likely to have carried a gun to school

-- twice as likely to report that they have driven while drunk

-- nearly three times as likely to use drugs

-- twice as likely to have shoplifted

 The researchers also found that young people who participate in the 4-H youth development program for a year or more fared better than their peers, including those participating in other after-school activities. The survey showed that 4-H members:

-- are more likely to give money or time to charity

-- are more likely to help the poor, sick or others

-- get more A’s in school than non-4’Hers

-- are more involved as leaders in school and community, and

-- are more likely to be looked up to as role models by other kids.

 Four-H youth also responded that they are more likely than their peers to talk to their parents about serious issues like drugs, alcohol and sex.

“4-H brought me closer to my grandfather,” wrote one survey respondent.

“I can cook so my mom won’t have to all the time,” wrote another.

The 4-H program is the largest youth development program in Montana, says Astroth. Participants learn practical skills and responsibility through hands-on projects such as photography, woodworking, raising livestock, aerospace and cooking.

“This research shows that how kids spend their time out of school is critical to their development,” Astroth said. “Kids who aren’t involved in constructive out-of-school youth development programs like 4-H are more likely to experience problems in school, get lower grades, cheat on tests and experiment with drugs. After all, a lot can happen in the out-of-school hours. Four-H makes sure it’s positive.”

For more information about 4-H in Montana, contact your local county Extension office; call the State 4-H Office at MSU: (406) 994-3501; or visit their Website: www.montana.edu/www4h

You can download the full report at www.montana.edu/www4h/4hsurvey.pdf [case sensitive]. This file is one megabyte in size and requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software for viewing and a significant download time.

Please send  questions or comments (plus your name, location and the subject of the story you read) to Suzi Taylor and Carol Flaherty, MSU Communications Services, Bozeman, MT 59717 or email us at: carolf@montana.edu.

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