Youth–Adult Partnership and Youth Civic Development: Cross-National Analyses for Scholars and Field Professionals

TLDR

Community‑based youth organizations worldwide partner youth with adults to promote civic development. The study aims to guide field professionals in creating structures that foster shared dialogue, program planning, and purposeful action between youth and adults. The authors surveyed 528 youth in the United States, Portugal, and Malaysia and used multilevel modeling, regression, and profile analysis to examine how youth–adult partnership relates to youth empowerment and community connections. Youth achieve better civic outcomes when they have decision‑making freedom and trustful, power‑sharing relationships with adults, a pattern consistent across the US, Portugal, and Malaysia.

Abstract

Across the world, community-based youth organizations are engaging youth as partners with adults to promote youth civic development. A sample of 528 youth from the United States, Portugal, and Malaysia were surveyed to explore associations between youth–adult partnership (youth voice in decision making; supportive adult relationships) and two key aspects of civic development (youth empowerment; community connections). Multi-level modeling, regression, and profile analysis were used to compare patterns of association across the three national samples. Results indicate that youth are most likely to achieve positive outcomes when they experience the freedom to make decisions, while experiencing trust and power sharing from adults. The results were consistent across the three national samples, suggesting that the influence of partnership may transcend cultures and contexts. Future scholarship should aim to support field professionals in building organizational structures and opportunities that encourage shared dialogue, program planning, and purposeful action among youth and adults.