Summer youth work programs for health promotion: A scoping review

Abstract

Summer youth work programs, including paid employment and internships, are typically designed to promote youth employability. They also hold potential as obesity prevention strategies due to their structured nature. This scoping review provides a comprehensive overview of existing programs, focusing on their study characteristics, program components, and barriers and facilitators to participation. The goal is to evaluate these programs’ potential to prevent adolescent obesity. A systematic search of PubMed, ERIC (EBSCO), PsycInfo (EBSCO), and Web of Science identified 30 interventions reported across 34 articles. Most studies were quasi-experimental, primarily targeted “job readiness and career” as outcomes, and primarily included underserved youth. Thematic analysis revealed three top program components: training, mentoring, and application. In 13 studies, adolescents reported barriers and facilitators to program participation. “Professional skill development” and “hands-on learning” opportunities were frequently cited as facilitators, while “poor organization” and “limited transportation” emerged as common barriers to program participation. Notably, none of the studies conducted comprehensive feasibility assessments, including trial- and intervention-related feasibility indicators. Only two quasi-experimental studies targeted obesity-related outcomes, with promising findings in reducing obesogenic behaviors. Rigorous study designs and comprehensive feasibility assessments are needed to better understand the potential of these programs in addressing adolescent obesity.