TY - JOUR
T1 - “There is just more love in it”
T2 - a qualitative study of youth voice and relatedness in U.S. youth circus programs
AU - Adolfová, Barbora
AU - Agans, Jennifer P.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Canadian Association for Leisure Studies / Association canadienne d’études en loisir.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Recreational youth circus programs are a unique context for positive youth development. Anecdotal evidence suggests that young people feel heard in these programs, and research in other recreation settings shows that participation in decision making helps youth connect with others. The present study therefore examined how youth voice is supported at five youth circus programs across the United States through program observations and qualitative interviews with participants (N = 17, ages 12–18) and staff (N = 13). Thematic analysis revealed that both youth and staff felt their circus programs listen to youth members, although actual options for engagement varied. Furthermore, the love and acceptance of the circus community was omnipresent in the interviews; a feeling of belonging/relatedness even for individuals who felt excluded elsewhere. This study shows that youth circus can foster belonging and inclusion, and raises questions about the differences between perceived and actual opportunities for youth voice in recreation contexts.
AB - Recreational youth circus programs are a unique context for positive youth development. Anecdotal evidence suggests that young people feel heard in these programs, and research in other recreation settings shows that participation in decision making helps youth connect with others. The present study therefore examined how youth voice is supported at five youth circus programs across the United States through program observations and qualitative interviews with participants (N = 17, ages 12–18) and staff (N = 13). Thematic analysis revealed that both youth and staff felt their circus programs listen to youth members, although actual options for engagement varied. Furthermore, the love and acceptance of the circus community was omnipresent in the interviews; a feeling of belonging/relatedness even for individuals who felt excluded elsewhere. This study shows that youth circus can foster belonging and inclusion, and raises questions about the differences between perceived and actual opportunities for youth voice in recreation contexts.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85169784661&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/14927713.2023.2252834
DO - 10.1080/14927713.2023.2252834
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85169784661
SN - 1492-7713
VL - 47
SP - 559
EP - 578
JO - Leisure/ Loisir
JF - Leisure/ Loisir
IS - 4
ER -