Youth Empowerment in the Community and Young People’s Creative Self-Efficacy: The Moderating Role of Youth–Adult Partnerships in Youth Service

Abstract

This study examined the moderating effect of youth–adult partnerships (YAPs) on the relationship between youth empowerment in the community and youth’s creative self-efficacy (CSE). A survey was administered to 2,653 youth recruited from youth service centers in Hong Kong, which measured youth empowerment in the community, perceived YAPs in youth services, and CSE. The results indicated positive associations between youth empowerment in the community and youth’s CSE and between YAPs and CSE. There was also an interaction effect between youth empowerment and YAPs on youth’s CSE, where the effect of youth empowerment was stronger for youth who experienced higher perceived levels of YAPs. This suggests an amplification effect of YAPs on the relationship between youth empowerment in the community and CSE. Overall, the present findings support a way for community-based youth services to empower youth and to facilitate creative developmental outcomes and initiatives among young people by enhancing YAPs.