On the coactions between perceived program quality and youth purpose

Toward a model of dynamic person⇔context relations

Bibliographic Data

ID24215637
AuthorsRuoying Zhang (0000-0003-1076-3805, Lynch School of Education and Human Development Boston College Chestnut Hill Massachusetts USA), Roya Abbasi‐Asl (0000-0003-1186-5424, Eliot‐Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development Tufts University Medford Massachusetts USA), Margaret Mackin (0000-0003-3174-6158, Eliot‐Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development Tufts University Medford Massachusetts USA), Jacqueline V Lerner (0000-0003-4637-8538, Lynch School of Education and Human Development Boston College Chestnut Hill Massachusetts USA), Richard M Lerner (0000-0002-9426-9048, Eliot‐Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development Tufts University Medford Massachusetts USA), Alistair Sim (Compassion International Colorado Springs Colorado USA), Elizabeth M Dowling (0000-0001-9699-3278, Eliot‐Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development Tufts University Medford Massachusetts USA), Jonathan M Tirrell (0000-0002-4825-0207, Eliot‐Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development Tufts University Medford Massachusetts USA), Natasha Keces (0000-0003-2604-889X, Eliot‐Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development Tufts University Medford Massachusetts USA), Alexa Hasse (Eliot‐Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development Tufts University Medford Massachusetts USA), Kirsten Olander (0000-0002-7378-9837, Eliot‐Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development Tufts University Medford Massachusetts USA), Kiana Douglas (Compassion International Colorado Springs Colorado USA), Patience Kibbedi (Compassion International Kampala Uganda), Jane Wanyama (Compassion International Kampala Uganda)
Year2026
Volume36
Issue4
Pagese70277-e70277
Publication date2026-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Research on Adolescence (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1050-8392 • E-ISSN: 1532-7795
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jora.70277
PMID42834779
OpenAlexW7220735178
LanguageEN
References cited50

Contemporary theories of positive youth development (PYD) emphasize dynamic, mutually beneficial relationships between individuals and their contexts as a pathway to thriving and contribution. However, there remains a critical gap in longitudinal, theory‐driven research examining youth strengths (e.g., purpose) and contextual assets (e.g., program quality) in Majority World contexts, particularly within structured youth programming. The present study examined reciprocal relationships between perceived program quality (a higher‐order factor of the Big Three) and youth purpose using three waves of longitudinal data from a sample of 615 adolescents (50.3% female; ages 9–16, M age = 12.5, SD age = 2.3) participating in Compassion International youth development programs in Uganda. Results using cross‐lagged panel models revealed positive, reciprocal associations between perceived program quality and youth purpose, such that higher program quality predicted subsequent higher youth purpose, and stronger youth purpose predicted more positive later perceptions of program quality. Temporal precedence tests indicated that neither construct emerged as a dominant developmental driver, and therefore supported a pattern of mutual influence. These findings advance PYD theory by providing longitudinal evidence for dynamic person⇔context coactions between perceived program quality and youth purpose, consistent with dynamic, relational developmental systems perspectives.

Crime Patterns and Interventions · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Youth Development and Social Support

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