Parenting and Youth Purpose: Fostering Other-Oriented Aims

Youth purpose is defined as a life aim that both personally meaningful and contributes to the world beyond self. This study disaggregated other-oriented (OO) aims (i.e., intended contribute world) self-oriented (SO) without intention self) examine development of youth who evince various combinations high low OO SO aims. In sample 207 adolescent girls, hierarchical cluster analysis revealed three clusters: High SO–High (“Self Other-Oriented Aims”), SO–Low (“Self-Oriented OO–Low (“Other-Oriented Aims”). A MANOVA indicated reported higher levels parental trust communication were more likely have “Self Aims” “Other-Oriented Aims”) versus primarily The was associated with better psychosocial functioning.