The effects of a social service project on personal growth and academic performance in secondary school students from low socioeconomic status

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a social service project for disadvantaged students through pretest–posttest study design and qualitative interviews. All students joining the service project were invited to participate in this study. Data on personal growth and academic performance (exam scores and class ranks) before and after joining the project were collected. Two focus group interviews were conducted to explore the strengths and limitations of the project. Paired t-test and generalized estimating equation model and content analysis were conducted to analyse quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Results showed significant improvements in personal growth including self-esteem, academic performance, interpersonal relationship and personal goal setting (all p < 0.05); while exam scores and class ranks were not improved. ‘Being empathic’, ‘self-awareness’ and ‘interpersonal relationship’ emerged from the qualitative interviews as the strength of the project; short duration, lack of follow up and practical strategies in the service contents were concerned as limitations of the project. To conclude, this social service project was proven effective in empowering the personal growth of disadvantaged youth.

KEYWORDS:

• Disadvantaged youth
• social service
• personal growth
• academic performance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by I·CARE, CUHK under grants [#8143259, #8143844 & #8143850] and The D.H. Chan Foundation under grant [#8414250].

Notes on contributors

Sek Ying Chair

Professor Sek Ying Chair Professor Chair Sek-ying is the President of the Hong Kong Academy of Nursing, the Founding President and current Vice-President of the Hong Kong College of Cardiac Nursing. Professor Chair is also the Vice-Director of Research and the Head of Graduate Division of the Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). She is a Visiting Professor of Manchester Metropolitan University at UK, Shenzhen University and Sichuan University in China; and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Her research interests focus on cardiovascular and critical care nursing.

Tin Yan Sit

Tin Yan SIT Tin Yan SIT received the BSc in Nursing and MSc in Management in Health Care, she is currently the Lecturer in the School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong. She became an educator in tertiary institution since 2012, and received several teaching awards during her service in The Chinese University of Hong Kong. In 2020, she is awarded Fellow of Advanced Higher Education (FHEA). She is interested in service learning pedagogy in higher education and was the coordinator of service activities in a College.

Wai Ching Ng

Wai Ching NG Chairperson, End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation. Board member, Association for Concern for Legal Rights of Victims of Domestic Violence. 15th Outstanding Social Worker Award, Hong Kong Social Worker Association, 2006. Lecturer, Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Yuen Ying Mak

Yuen Ying MAK Yuen Ying is a Bachelor of science graduate from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is currently pursuing further studies in Bachelor of Dental Surgery at The University of Hong Kong. She was the research assistant and one of the organising committee of the third cohort of this community project.

Kwun Hang Li

Kwun Hang LI Li Kwun Hang holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and he was a peer mentor and research assistant of the “Understanding Socially Disadvantaged School Youths through a Social Service Endeavour” project.