Positive youth development

This research explores the impact that childhood participation in Scouts, Guides or similar organisations can have in later life.

The research

The aims of this project is to examine, using the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s study (ACONF) linked to prescribing data for medicines for mental health, whether childhood participation in Scouts, Guides and other similar organisations affects health in later life.

The findings indicate that such participation is associated with better health in mid-life - read headline findings here.

The data

This project aims to link and analyse:

• Aberdeen Children of the 1950s study (ACONF)
• Prescribing data / Prescribing Information System records

Research team

Professor Chris Dibben, Lee Williamson and Kishan Patel

Publications, outputs and media coverage

• November 2016 - BBC News
• October 2020 - Data Insights - Youth Movements, Social Mobility and Health Inequalities
• October 2022 - NEWS - Scout and Guides participation boosts later life health
• October 2022 - Journal Article - European Journal of Public Health
• October 2022 - The Times
• October 2022 - Daily Mail
• October 2022 - Daily Express
• December 2022 - Data Insights - Youth Movements, Social Mobility and Health Inequalities – Update