Developmental pathways linking the quality and intensity of organized afterschool activities in middle school to academic performance in high school

Introduction: Adolescents' organized afterschool activities have been linked to their academic performance, but processes contributing to these relations are not well understood. This study tested two pathways linking activity intensity and activity quality in 6th grade to high school academic performance: adolescents' activities in 9th grade and adolescents' academic skills in 9th grade. Methods: Data were from the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, a longitudinal study conducted at 10 sites in the United States. Data were collected from 918 participants (51% female) who were assessed in 6th grade (Age 12; middle school), 9th grade (Age 15; beginning of high school), and 12th grade (Age 18; end of high school). Results & Conclusions: Findings from structural equation models indicated that adolescents who had higher activity intensity and activity quality in 6th grade participated in activities with higher intensity and quality in 9th grade. These 9th grade activities formed an indirect path linking 6th grade activities to high school academic performance, including grades and number of advanced classes. In addition, 6th grade activity quality promoted adolescents' work orientations in 9th grade, a key academic disposition that then predicted grades and number of advanced classes in high school. These findings suggest that organized afterschool activities in middle school may prepare adolescents for academic success in high school via their participation in activities in 9th grade as well a stronger work orientation in 9th grade.