Organized After-School Activity and Adolescents’ Ethnic-Racial Identity: A Systematic Literature Review

Ethnic-racial identity is an important developmental outcome, particularly for adolescents of color. Understanding the contextual factors that support this outcome is important for promoting their overall positive development. Organized after-school activities offer a promising structural support for ethnic-racial identity development, yet little is known about the specific mechanisms within activities that support this process. This systematic literature review synthesizes empirical studies from 2000 and 2023 to examine how processes within organized after-school activities may facilitate adolescents’ ethnic-racial identity development. Furthermore, bridging our findings with existing theories, we propose a conceptual framework to guide future research on this topic. Following PRISMA guidelines, we identified 35 studies that met inclusion criteria. Synthesis of quantitative studies indicate that breadth and duration of participation in activities are positively associated with ethnic-racial identity development, whereas intensity was not significantly associated. Findings from qualitative studies highlight the importance of (1) fostering a supportive environment in which adolescents can engage in ethnic-racial identity promoting processes and (2) implementing ethnic-racial socialization strategies through culturally responsive activity quality indicators (e.g., providing opportunities for skills-building). Overall, this systematic literature review underscores the need for culturally responsive activity structure and practices with the combination of strategic resource allocation to optimize the benefits of organized after-school activities. Strengthening these practices can foster more inclusive, supportive, and effective activities that enhance positive ethnic-racial identity development and overall well-being in adolescents.