A DEVELOPMENTAL PERSPECTIVE ON COMMUNITY-SERVICE IN ADOLESCENCE

A substantial number of U.S. adolescents currently participate in comm unity service and there is increased national interest in service prog rams. This article assesses the assumption of developmental benefits t o service participants by critically reviewing 44 empirical studies, I t offers a theoretical framework for understanding the findings by con necting them to identity development and delineating three pertinent c oncepts, agency, social relatedness, and moral-political awareness, Th ese concepts are applied to studies that investigate: (1) the characte ristics and motivations of participants, (2) the effects of service, a nd (3) the process of service. The findings support the conclusion tha t service activities which provide opportunities for intense experienc es and social interactions are often associated with prosocial develop ment. The findings also point to the need for more studies focused on particular service programs and on relationships between service provi ders and those served.