Abstract
A substantial body of evidence supports Lerner and colleagues’ 5Cs model of positive youth development (PYD) in the United States (U.S.). Nonetheless, it remains unclear whether the 5Cs can be used to identify positive development in the under-researched Asian contexts, such as Malaysia. Thus, this study examined the 5Cs of PYD (competence, confidence, character, connection, and caring) and their importance to purpose in life, hope, and well-being in a sample of emerging adult undergraduate university students in Malaysia. Data were collected from 400 participants from 15 Malaysian universities (132 males, 268 females; ages ranged from 18 to 26 years old, M = 22). A hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that two of the 5Cs of PYD (confidence and connection) as well as hope were important to explaining variation in well-being. The findings imply that there are strong links between PYD, especially confidence and connection, and well-being, while purpose in life and hope were indirectly related to the 2Cs (confidence and connection) of PYD and well-being. Therefore, mental health professionals are encouraged to review and redefine their treatment design to include confidence, connection, purpose in life and hope when working with Malaysian emerging adult university students.
Highlights
Positive youth development (PYD) asserts that basic psychosocial conditions are significant determinants of youth well-being (Lerner, 2009)
This study was aimed at investigating the associations among the 5Cs of PYD, purpose in life, hope, and well-being as a facet of mental health in a university-based sample of Malaysian emerging adults
Consistent with the first hypothesis, the results indicated that all the 5Cs of PYD were significantly associated with wellbeing
Summary
Positive youth development (PYD) asserts that basic psychosocial conditions are significant determinants of youth well-being (Lerner, 2009). Positive youth development is based on the relational developmental systems theory, which suggests that young people possess resources that can be developed, nurtured, and cultivated (Lerner, 2009). Lerner (2009) described PYD as a process that promotes the “5Cs”: competence, confidence, connection, The 5Cs character, and caring. Lerner (2009) described thriving young people as individuals who actively nurture, cultivate, and develop positive qualities. Positive youth development does not focus only on the development of individual strengths, and devotes significant efforts at supporting positive relations between young people and their social-community resources. A variety of strengths and a positive identity, purpose in life, may help emerging youths to adapt and flourish as they enter the phase of life (e.g., marriage, occupation)
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