Date of Award
Fall 2025
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Nicole Zarrett
Abstract
Over the past decade, youth have shown a consistent rise in stress, major depression, anxiety, and suicide, with underserved youth (low-income, minoritized communities) at greatest risk of exposure to chronic stress, related outcomes, and less access to health services (APA, 2017). Afterschool programs (ASPs), which serve as important resources in underserved communities, can be a critical support for youth health and well-being (Afterschool Alliance, 2019). However, few studies have examined ways in which ASPs address the challenges underserved youth face across their ecosystem to promote youth resilience (Jones & Deutsch, 2011). Using qualitative interview data from staff and youth across 6 middle-school ASPs serving low-income, racially diverse communities, the current study aims to learn directly from the perspectives of youth and frontline program staff. Two main aims guided the study: to explore (1) the mental health challenges that underserved youth are facing across their ecological contexts and (2) the ways in which ASP staff help mitigate these risks. Participants included seven adult program directors (66.7% female, ages 25-60 years, M = 36.67) and six youth focus groups (N=33 youth; 54.5% female, 45.5% African American, ages 9-13 years, M = 11) from six ASPs. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed for youth facing challenges and ASP staff-provided supports. Staff-reported challenges included general stress, negative health habits, and a negative impact of technology use, while youth-reported challenges included teachers, family problems, and academic stressors. ASP staff identified structured time and caring staff as ASP supports, while youth noted opportunities to socialize and helping behaviors from the staff and other students. These findings further emphasize the important role of ASPs in fostering positive youth development in underserved communities, particularly by connecting youth with resources across their ecological systems. Implications for future research, practice, and policy are discussed.
Rights
© 2025, Olivia Staples
Recommended Citation
Staples, O.(2025). Leveraging After School Programs as Resources to Support Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Within Underserved Communities: A Qualitative Study. (Master's thesis). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/8594