Association Between Group Identification at School and Positive Youth Development: Moderating Role of Rural and Urban Contexts

Diana Paricio; Marina Herrera; María F Rodrigo; Paz Viguer

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01971

Association Between Group Identification at School and Positive Youth Development: Moderating Role of Rural and Urban Contexts

Front Psychol. 2020 Aug 7:11:1971. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01971. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Diana Paricio¹, Marina Herrera², María F Rodrigo³, Paz Viguer⁴

Affiliations

¹ Open University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
² Department of Social Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
³ Department of Methodology for the Behavioural Sciences, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
⁴ Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.

Abstract

These studies are framed within Social Identity Theory and the Positive Youth Development approach. The aim is: (1) to analyze the relationship between group identification at school and key positive development variables (such as self-esteem, self-efficacy, assertiveness, empathy, alexithymia, satisfaction with life, and academic performance); and (2) examine the moderator role of context (rural or urban areas of residence) and sex in these relationships. The samples were composed of 246 adolescents from a rural context (Study 1) and 156 students from rural and urban contexts (Study 2). As proposed in our hypotheses, the results show statistically significant relationships between group identification and all the variables considered, higher group identification with the class in the rural context, and a moderator role of the context in the relationships between group identification and satisfaction with life, assertiveness, and empathy. These results are relevant for designing and implementing psychoeducational programs to promote positive youth development in both rural and urban contexts.

Keywords: adolescence; educational intervention; group identification; peer relationships; positive youth development; rural area.