Investigating trustworthiness and tolerance of others and shared power within youth-adult partnerships

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to broaden the limited body of research concerning the relationship between trustworthiness and tolerance of others and shared power within a youth-adult partnership. The theoretical models of Bourdieu, Bronfenbrenner and capacity building/assets enhancement models were used for this study. The study also assessed gender differences, age, educational attainment and organizational experience between this sample of youth and adults. Data for the findings were generated from survey, field observations and face-to-face interviews with youth and adult members using a convenience sample of fifteen partnerships in Kansas City consisting of three different youth-adult ratio sized subgroups. Differences and similarites of the variables are reported between the youth and adult members. The youth consistently perceived the adults' perception of shared power less than the the adults' reported perceptions of sharing power with youth. In addition the youth were generally more trustworthy and tolerant of others than adults. Similarities included the youths' age and educational attainment. One of the two hypotheses that used the bivariate regression equations to test for a positive relationship between shared power and trustworthiness and tolerance of others was partially supported. The data partially advances the assertion that the perception of shared power is positively associated with trustworthiness and tolerance of others when youth and adults' perception of power are combined. The second regression equation that tested the three separate ratio sized subgroups was not significant. Two independent sample t-tests were conducted. This study used t-tests to determine if there was a significant difference between adult and youth levels of the variables trustworthiness and tolerance of others. For all indicators of trustworthiness, youth reported significantly higher levels of trust. For seven of the eight indicators of the tolerance variable, youth reported significantly higher levels of tolerance. One-way ANOVA tests was used to determine the differences between the means of the variables within the three ratio sized partnerships. The tests determined significant subgroup differences with respect to shared power and trustworthiness of others. Pragmatic and policy implications were discussed.