Graduation Year

2021

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ed.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Degree Granting Department

Curriculum and Instruction

Major Professor

Sarah Kiefer, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Howard Johnston, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Elizabeth Shaunessy-Dedrick, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Jennifer Mariano, Ph.D.

Keywords

Five C’s, Bar Mitzvah, Peers, Community, Education

Abstract

This qualitative study explored Jewish early adolescents’ perceptions of their positive youth development, identity development, and purpose. Three theoretical frameworks informed the study, including Lerner’s 5 C’s of positive youth development, Marcia’s identity development, and Damon’s youth purpose. Specifically, the study explored how Jewish early adolescents perceive certain aspects of the local Jewish community as supportive of positive youth development, identity development, and youth purpose. I collected qualitative data through a series of three interviews with 4 Jewish early adolescents recruited using purposeful sampling. Data were analyzed through a hybrid approach to thematic analysis. The first finding was that Jewish early adolescent perceptions of their positive youth development, identity development, and purpose are shaped by self, family, and friends. The second finding was that within the Jewish community, identity development, positive youth development and purpose flourished while Jewish early adolescents often felt unsafe, left out, and misunderstood within the broader secular community context. These findings provide a deeper understanding of Jewish early adolescents’ perceptions of their positive youth development, identity development, and purpose, and have implications as to how the Jewish community may best support and nurture early adolescent development.

Download

Included in

Education Commons

Share

COinS