Healthy Living Research

4-H Healthy Living initiatives are proven to influence youth to engage in positive healthy living behaviors.

4-H Positive Youth Development Study

According to Wave 6 of 4-H Positive Youth Development Study, 4-H’ers – regardless of their background, socio-economic status, race, and gender – thrive through the health/safety education and experiences they receive through 4-H programming. In fact, young people in 4-H are:

• Less likely to have sexual intercourse by Grade 10,
• 56% more likely to spend more hours exercising or being physically active,
• Shown to have had significantly lower drug, alcohol and cigarette use than their peers.

Download the 4-H Positive Youth Development Study 

4-H Healthy Living

Evidence-based and peer-reviewed 4-H Healthy Living Programs have been highlighted by the USDA Programs of Distinction. Healthy Living liaisons from the nation’s 106 land-grant universities and colleges work to enable successful healthy living programming.

• Executive Summary: provides best practices and an assessment of needs in the 4-H Healthy Living programming.
• Complete Literature Review