Chapter 2: Trust Formation in Youth–Adult Relationships in out-of-School Time Organizations

Supportive youth–adult relationships are essential for promoting positive development in youth organizations because they positively impact the experiences of young people in these contexts, their developmental outcomes, and the outcomes of the programs themselves (Li & Julian, 2012; Vandell, Larson, Mahoney, & Watts, 2015). One type of supportive youth– adult relationship is the youth–adult partnership, in which youth and adults collectively move toward a shared goal (Zeldin, Christens, & Powers, 2013). Interpersonal trust is a foundation of many different types of youth–adult relationships, including youth–adult partnerships (Brewer, 2012; Donlan, Mcdermott, & Zaff, 2017; Hammond, 2014; Rhodes, 2005; Taft & Gordon, 2018). A youth–adult partnership can be challenging to foster and maintain because it requires a shift away from the typical hierarchy expected in intergenerational relationships (Conner, Ober, & Brown, 2016; De Lissovoy, 2010). This shift requires adults to be especially attuned to several essential components of their relationships, such as trust. Trust is especially critical if youth and adults seek to engage in authentic collaboration, often a central goal of youth–adult partnerships.