This article focuses on how length of participation in professional youth work is associated with five outcome variables: prosocial skills, self-mastery, social network, civic participation (volunteering and organizing activities) and finding support from social care services. The study was designed as a longitudinal cohort study of four waves during a 16-month period, gathering the data of 1597 youngsters aged 10–24 who participated in Dutch professional youth work. The results show that, on average, youngsters who participated longer in youth work scored significantly higher on the outcome variables. Respondents did not show individual improvements on outcome variables over the period, but the results demonstrate a cautious positive trend over time in volunteering. Referring youngsters (33%) by youth workers to care services could prevent an exacerbation of existing problems. The results provide knowledge that legitimizes the role of professional youth workers and which can be used by them to improve the support of socially vulnerable youngsters in their personal development and social participation.

本文着重介绍参与专业青年工作的时间如何与五个结果变量相关联：亲社会技能，自我掌握，社交网络，公民参与（志愿服务和组织活动）以及从社会护理服务中寻求支持。该研究被设计为在16个月内对四次浪潮进行的纵向队列研究，收集了1597位10-24岁的年轻人的数据，这些年轻人参加了荷兰的专业青年工作。结果表明，平均而言，参加青年工作时间更长的年轻人在结果变量上得分要高得多。受访者在此期间并未显示出对结果变量的个体改善，但结果表明，随着时间的流逝，自愿行为呈谨慎的积极趋势。由青年工人推荐年轻人（33％）去看护服务可以防止现有问题的恶化。结果提供了使专业青年工人的角色合法化的知识，并且可以被他们用来改善社会弱势年轻人在其个人发展和社会参与中的支持。