The purpose of the current study was to conduct an examination of spectator (i.e., parental) behavior at youth hockey games in a large Canadian city. Using naturalistic observation methods, an event sampling procedure was used to code spectators’ comments. Of specific interest were the type of remarks made, who made them (i.e., males versus females), the intensity of those remarks and whether they varied by child age, gender, and competitive level. We were also interested in whether the majority of onlookers’ comments were actually directed at the players, on-ice officials, or fellow spectators. Five observers attended 69 hockey games during the 2006–2007 hockey season. There was a significant variability in the number of comments made, with an average of 105 comments per game. The majority of the comments were generally positive ones, directed at the players. Negative comments, although quite infrequent, were directed largely at the referees. Females made more comments than did males, although males made more negative and corrective comments, and females made mostly positive comments. Comments varied significantly as a function of gender and competitive level. Proportionally more negative comments were made at competitive, as opposed to recreational games. An interaction was found for female spectators as their comments varied as a function of both the competitive level and the gender of the players. Results of this study are in direct contrast to media reports of extreme parental violence at youth hockey games, and provide unique information about the role of parental involvement at youth sporting events.

Canadian youth can experience a range of mental health problems and mental illness, many of which perpetuate into adulthood. In contrast with preventative and medical care for physical problems, youth who experience difficulties with mental health or illness meet restricted access to evaluation, diagnostic and treatment services. Obstacles vary from low funding levels for services to the fear of being stigmatised by society. Conventional therapies could be complemented by the use of arts-based therapies, which are reported to offer a tangible alternative and could relieve delays in treatment. However, research regarding the treatment options, monitoring and assessment of outcomes is based largely on narrative evidence or idiographic studies, thus constraining the dissemination of supporting evidence and limiting the range of treatments for use by practitioners. While arts-based therapies receive support from many areas, including people with lived experience of mental health problems and illness, it is argued that the development of a theoretical foundation and extensive empirical research are required to develop the potential that arts-based therapies have to offer.

Positive youth development (PYD) offers an optimistic framework to enhance adolescent development. Proposed PYD outcomes include initiative and agency (Larson, 2000), and positive values termed the Five Cs: confidence, competence, connection, caring, and character (Lerner R. M., Lerner, J., et al., 2005). Previous research indicates that PYD is fostered through extra-curricular activity (ECA) participation in organised, structured settings, including sport and music. The main aim of this research was to explore the association between, principally, adolescents' music participation and their character development. Study 1 measured the music and sport ECAs of 246 first year university students, and their motivations for participation. Results showed that character was predicted by sport involvement and the motivations for music participation. Study 2 investigated the character development and well-being of 470 first year university participants through measures of sport or music experiences, engagement, and personality. Findings revealed that sport and music ECA involvement generally were not strong predictors of character development. However, indices of engagement experienced in sport and music activities were significant predictors, particularly activity enjoyment, even when controlling for personality. Results are discussed with respect to the implications for music ECA participation and PYD.

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