The 4-H youth organization: Primary prevention through competency promotion.

4-H programs have as one of their major objectives primary prevention through competency enhancement of psychosocial development. To evaluate the program's effectiveness in enhancing psychosocial development, an evaluation study was completed. Questionnaire responses were obtained from 12, 13 and 14 year old adolescents and their parents. A total of 330 respondents (165 families) completed an assessment designed to measure psychosocial maturity. Comparisons between 4-H and non-4-H parental and youth responses indicated that 4-H involvement is associated with higher parental perceptions of interpersonal and social adequacy. Other analyses suggest age differences affecting social maturity, and rural versus urban residency differences in program effectiveness.