Journal of Adolescence Journal of Adolescence 29 (2006) 289–298 Community service for youth: The value of psychological engagement over number of hours spent Jenifer K. McGuire à , Wendy C. Gamble University of Arizona, PO Box 210033, Tucson AZ, 85721-0033, USA Abstract This study examined the relative contribution of psychological engagement with a service activity and number of hours spent in that activity as predictors of change over time in community belonging and social responsibility. Sixty-eight primarily rural adolescents participated as teen leaders in a sexuality education program, and completed assessments of social responsibility and community belonging before and after program participation. Psychological engagement with the service activity and number of hours spent were used to predict changes in social responsibility and community belonging, while controlling for gender, prior program participation, and sexual behaviour history. Psychological engagement, but not number of hours spent, accounted for significant unique variability of change in community belonging and social responsibility. r 2005 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Community service; Social responsibility; Community belonging Introduction Community service, community belonging and social responsibility are important landmarks in the developmental landscape of adolescence. Sherrod, Flanagan, and Youniss (2002) describe community service and participation in youth development programs as a way for youth to ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.com/locate/jado 0140-1971/$30.00 r 2005 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2005.07.006 à Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 520 621 7127; fax: +1 520 621 3401. E-mail address: jmcguire@u.arizona.edu (J.K. McGuire).