Service quality, resilience, and social-emotional competence in vulnerable youth : what’s LOVE got to do with it?

Abstract

The present mixed-methods research was conducted in partnership with Leave Out Violence Nova Scotia (LOVE NS) to investigate service quality, resilience, and social emotional competence among vulnerable youth in community-based programs. In Study 1, semi-structured interviews were used to examine youths’ perceptions of adversity in their lives, along with service quality, social-emotional competence, and resilience related to their involvement with LOVE NS. Despite individual risk exposure, youth demonstrated resilience and social-emotional competence through LOVE NS. Positive service experiences were also reported. In Study 2, a focus group was conducted to involve youth in developing a quantitative questionnaire. Questionnaire data was used to explore whether service quality at LOVE NS was linked to social-emotional competence through resilience, while considering individual risks. Beyond externalizing, service quality at LOVE NS was positively linked to social-emotional competence through increased resilience. Findings suggest that community-based programs may improve social-emotional competence in vulnerable youth by facilitating resilience.