Deepti Hooda
M.D. University, Rohtak, Haryana
Youth is both the resources and agents for any social and community change. Tapping
this potent resource by empowering youth through positive youth development (PYD)
can help in bringing desired social and economic change in any community. For that,
we need to understand the role of positive youth development in the youth’s sense of
community and civic engagement. The present research explores the relationship of
the five Cs of positive youth development (PYD) with youth’s sense of community and
civic engagement. A sample of 500 students (undergraduate and postgraduate) with an
age range of 17-22 years (mean age 19.74 years) was selected based on availability
from the different institutes/ departments of Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak.
Correlation and regression analysis was used for data analysis. The results of the
correlation analysis revealed that a significant and positive association with the five
Cs of positive youth development with a sense of community and civic engagement.
Further, the results of regression analysis showed connection as a significant indicator
of youth’s sense of community. Connection, character, and competence were found
to be significant predictors of youth’s civic engagement. These findings highlight the
need for and importance of designing, developing, and implementing positive youth
development programs which in turn would enhance youths’ sense of community and
civic engagement that is important for any community or society to flourish
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