Maximising potential: The psychological effects of the youth development programme Project K
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Citation
Export citationFurness, K., Williams, M. N., Veale, J., & Gardner, D. H. (2017). Maximising potential: The psychological effects of the youth development programme Project K. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 46(1), 14–23.
Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/13315
Abstract
Project K is a positive youth development programme targeting 13-15 year old students with low self-efficacy. It involves three components: wilderness adventure, community challenge and individual mentoring. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate changes in self-efficacy, resilience, connectedness and wellbeing in students participating in Project K. Eighty students (59% male) were recruited from five secondary schools across the North Island of New Zealand for a quasi-experimental study. Participants displaying delinquent behaviour, self-harm, suicidal ideation, or an eating disorder were excluded. Over 14 months, six waves of measurement were completed by Project K participants (n = 49), while four waves of measurement were completed by a control group (n = 31). Analyses using multilevel models showed that completion of Project K had substantial positive effects on self-efficacy, resilience, and wellbeing, although the effect on connectedness was not significant. We conclude that Project K appears to be an effective positive youth development programme for adolescents with low self-efficacy.
Date
2017Type
Publisher
New Zealand Psychological Society
Rights
This article is published in the New Zealand Journal of Psychology. © 2017 New Zealand Psychological Society. Used with permission.