Looking for a simple, low or no-cost way to help youth do better academically, increase GPA, reduce substance abuse and help reduce risk of adolescent misconduct? Get them involved in volunteerism!

Volunteering and Helping Others Reduces Risk of Substance Use in Rural Adolescents

Empirical Research

The Longitudinal Relationships Between Rural Adolescents’ Prosocial Behaviors and Young Adult Substance Use. From the issue entitled "Special Issue: Rural Adolescents: Developmental Challenges and Adaptations"

Recent research suggests that rural youth and young adults may be more at risk for substance use than their urban counterparts. This study was designed to examine the longitudinal relationships between rural adolescents’ (increased) prosocial behaviors and (reduced) substance use in young adulthood.

Overall, the findings showed that rural adolescents who frequently exhibit prosocial behaviors are less likely to engage in substance use in young adulthood than those who exhibit relatively low levels of prosocial behaviors. These findings indicate that simple, low or no cost prosocial behaviors such as volunteerism may have positive health consequences that lead to lower levels of risky health behaviors in adulthood in rural populations. Read More...