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Psychological Needs Fulfillment and Engagement Within After School Programming: A Thematic Analysis of Program Rentention

The current qualitative study draws on Larson’s theory of positive youth development and on concepts from Self-Determination Theory to postulate that program participants will derive a sense of enjoyment and challenge in program activities when they perceive that the program supports their psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Selfdetermination theory suggests that when programs support participants’ need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, the participants will in turn experience a higher sense of motivation and engagement within the program. The emergent themes found from the thematic analysis helped to support this theory by suggesting that Cool Girls participants experience a sense of engagement and motivation through program activities that promote autonomy/independence and peer/adult connections. Further, possible variations in perceived needs fulfillment across age groups were explored. INDEX WORDS: After School Program, Adolescent, Engagement, Self-Determination, Retention PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS FULFILLMENT AND ENGAGEMENT WITHIN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING: A THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF PROGRAM RETENTION