Decision-making opportunities at school moderate the effects of positive youth development on civic behaviors

AbstractThe assets of Positive Youth Development were explored in relation to youth civic behaviors among a total of 7656 Finnish sixth and ninth graders (mean age 12 and 15 years, respectively). The assets of positive global self-esteem, societal interests, competence orientation, connectedness with peers and family, and caring for school were expected to be positively related to adolescents’ civic behaviors, but the opportunities to participate in the decision-making at school were hypothesized to moderate these links. As hypothesized, opportunities for decision-making at school decreased the effects of global self-esteem and future orientation on adolescents’ civic behaviors and strengthened the positive influence of connectedness with peers. The pattern of the results highlight a need for a systematic exploration of various influences on adolescents’ civic behaviors, and, most of all, the importance of empowering students with decision-making opportunities at school.