Does Participation in Extracurricular Activities during Adolescence Predict Personality in Young Adulthood? Findings from a Longitudinal Study of Mexican-Origin Youth
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Does Participation in Extracurricular Activities during Adolescence Predict Personality in Young Adulthood? Findings from a Longitudinal Study of Mexican-Origin Youth

Abstract

Many factors, including relationships, work, retirement, and income (Neyer & Lehnart, 2007; Roberts et al., 2003; Löckenhoff et al., 2009; Sutin et al., 2009), can change aspects of an individual’s identity and behavior, which then contribute to personality changes throughout one’s lifetime. Extracurricular activities (i.e., activities that kids do outside of school) are analogous to adult social roles because they create distinct social contexts that require youth to adjust their behavior to meet the expectations, norms, and demands of the context. This adaptation may, in turn, prompt more extensive alterations to their identity and impact how their personality develops. Using data from a longitudinal study of 674 Mexican-origin youth, this dissertation examined (a) the prospective effect of participation in extracurricular activities from age 12 to 17 on youths’ Big Five personality traits at age 19 (controlling for age 16 personality), and, conversely, (b) the prospective effect of personality at age 14 on participation in extracurricular activities from age 14 to 17. Specifically, I investigated two conceptualizations of participation: breadth (number of activities) and intensity (number of hours), and three categories of extracurricular activities: total, structured, and unstructured. Growth curve models revealed that participating in more unstructured and total activities (breadth) from ages 12 to 17 were associated with higher extraversion and lower neuroticism at age 19. Spending more time (intensity) on structured activities from ages 12 to 17 was associated with increased extraversion. For prospective effects of personality on extracurricular activity participation, higher levels of extraversion and neuroticism at age 14 were associated with participation in more activities (breadth) and for longer periods of time (intensity) at age 14 but not growth in breadth or intensity from ages 14 to 17. Higher levels of conscientiousness at age 14 were also linked to participation in more activities at age 14. Agreeableness and openness were not associated with extracurricular activity participation in either direction. Overall, extraverted and neurotic individuals are more likely to participate in extracurricular activities and extracurricular activity participation likely leads to higher extraversion and lower neuroticism. No significant gender differences for the associations were found. Theoretical implications for personality development, as well as the practical implications for participating in extracurricular activities during adolescence, are discussed.

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