Washington, Jun 11 (IANS): Children gain a stronger sense of identity when they associate themselves with youth clubs, a new study has found.

The study by Ohio State University (OSU) suggests that even small improvements in self concept go a long way towards keeping children out of trouble.

"The more kids participate in these clubs, the better self concept they have," said Dawn Anderson-Butcher, associate professor of social work at OSU.

"And then that self concept makes children less vulnerable to engaging in problem behaviours." Even children who don't attend a club every day still benefit, she added.

The study surveyed nearly 300 children aged between 9 and 16. About three-fourths of the children were members of a local branch of Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The rest were children who weren't members, but lived in the surrounding community.

The children filled out the survey, which gauges how attached children feel to their family, neighbourhood, and school; whether they have a strong sense of who they are, and strong self-esteem; whether they earn good grades; and whether they feel that they receive positive reinforcement for good behaviour from their community.

It also asked whether they had engaged in problem behaviours in the last 30 days. Problem behaviours include alcohol, marijuana and cigarette use, academic failure and gang involvement.

Anderson-Butcher and Scottye Cash, her counterpart, compared the survey data with the last six months of the children's attendance records from the club to see if there was any association.

Because club attendance is voluntary, some children come more frequently than others. They freely choose among recreational activities (such as playing basketball), academic assistance, and life skills classes. This study simply counted time spent at the club, and not children's specific activities.

The study revealed that the more children participated in the club, the stronger was their sense of self. Participation in the club boosted their social skills, as well as the positive reinforcement they felt they received from their community, said an OSU release.

Children who experienced all these benefits were less likely to engage in problem behaviours.

These findings appear in a recent issue of Children and Youth Services Review.