Résumé
Social identity is a critical factor in shaping mental health among youth engaged in extracurricular activities, including sport and physical activity (Vella et al., 2021). This longitudinal study examined the relationship between the sub-dimensions of social identity (i.e., ingroup ties, cognitive centrality, ingroup affect) and two mental health outcomes: resilience and well-being. Grounded in social identity theory, the research aimed to understand how increased identification with a youth center during the 2-year post-COVID-19 social restriction period may have served as a psychological resource for youth to foster positive mental health. Ninety-seven participants (Mage = 12.19) from an urban youth center in Toronto, Ontario completed surveys at a total of four time points across two years. Controlling for gender, age, and ethnicity, results of two linear mixed-effects models highlighted significant within-subject effects for ingroup ties as a predictor of resilience (b = .25, p = .01) and well-being (b = .28, p = .02), and ingroup affect as a predictor of well-being (b = .25, p = .03). In addition, significant between-subject effects were found wherein ingroup ties was a predictor of resilience (b = .33, p = .01) and well-being (b = .32, p = .01). These findings support the growing body of literature highlighting the protective role of social identity in youth mental health. By identifying increases to social identity as a salient factor in promoting resilience and well-being, the results offer important implications for youth programming, particularly those aimed at fostering connection, belongingness, and positive affect.
