Measures Of Positive Youth Development Research Articles

Validation of a Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale: Dimensionality and factorial invariance.

For a multi-dimensional measure of positive youth development (PYD), its factor structure should be invariant across groups and over time. This study examined the factorial validity of the 44-item short form of the "Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale" (CPYDS-SF) that assesses 15 dimensions of PYD attributes. Using two waves of longitudinal data with a one-year interval in between, this study examined the factor structure of the scale and whether the structure is invariant between gender groups and across time. The data were collected from 3,328 adolescents at Wave 1 and 3,638 adolescents at Wave 2, with a matched sample of 2,905 adolescents (mean age = 12.57 ± 0.72 at Wave 1; 49.54% girls). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the 15-factor structure fitted the data well. The findings of invariance tests further supported this structure's invariance across gender and time, indicating a stable factor structure of CPYDS-SF among Chinese adolescents. These findings suggest that CPYDS-SF can be used to examine gender differences and the longitudinal development of PYD qualities among Chinese adolescents.

Psychometric Properties and Measurement Invariance of the Positive Youth Development Scale - Turkish Version.

In this study, we translated to Turkish and evaluated the validity, reliability, and measurement invariance for respondent sex, grade level and analysis programs the Short Form and Very Short Form of the Positive Youth Development Scale (Turkish version). We had 435 youth, aged 11-17years, complete the Short (34 items) and Very Short (17 items) Forms of the instrument. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that both forms had a 5-factor structure, and validity testing showed good criterion-related correlation validity between this tool and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The Short Form had adequate reliability coefficients, but the Very Short Form lacked sufficient reliability for some dimensions. Test-retest correlations were satisfactory for both forms. While the Short and Very Short Forms showed measurement invariance across gender and grade level, CFI, NNFI (TLI), and IFI values diverged between LISREL and AMOS analysis programs. In summary, our data suggest that the Short Form is a reliable measure of positive youth development, while the Very Short Form may not be as reliable due to insufficient confidence values.

Nature as an Ecological Asset for Positive Youth Development: Empirical Evidence From Rural Communities.

Despite increasing emphasis on youth contact with nature and associated benefits, research has not examined the direct relationship between adolescents' nature-based experiences and holistic measures of positive youth development (PYD). This gap may stem from the lack of interdisciplinary work on nature and PYD. Our study integrates multiple disciplinary perspectives to explore direct associations between time in nature, connection to nature, and the five Cs of PYD (competence, connection, confidence, character, and caring) as well as the “sixth” C of contribution. From 2015 to 2016, we collected data from 587 diverse South Carolina middle school students (57% female, 40% BIPOC) between the ages of 11 and 14 (Mage = 12.9) and living in predominantly low-income communities. OLS regression analyses indicated that across all youth, self-reported connection to nature was a consistent positive correlate of overall PYD and each of the individual Cs. Time in nature was associated with overall PYD and competence. Findings demonstrate significant associations between nature-based experiences and PYD and underscore the importance of ensuring that diverse youth can access and enjoy the developmental benefits of nature and nature-based recreation opportunities.

Stop, Drop, or Enroll? How Ability Beliefs Are Associated With College-Going Among Black Males

High educational attainment is associated with beneficial outcomes for both individuals and society; however, Black males are underrepresented among college students. This study drew on a positive youth development (PYD) perspective to investigate the role of academic self-efficacy beliefs (a malleable strength) in predicting academic preparedness (a measure of PYD) and how academic preparedness, in turn, was associated with immediate postsecondary enrollment. We also investigated a school-level measure of climate—academic press—as a moderator. Our study’s sample of Black male students was drawn from the Education Longitudinal Study (ELS) of 2002 and used three waves of ELS data. We found significant direct and indirect (through academic preparedness) effects of academic self-efficacy beliefs on college enrollment, and the findings indicated no differences in indirect relationships based on academic press. We discuss recommendations for future studies and the practice of school counseling.

Perceived health and a new measure of positive youth development in adolescents with chronic conditions.

Each year, 11.8 million adolescents in the United States cope with a chronic condition (CC), yet much of the research about these youth has been framed from a deficit perspective. The author developed and validated a measure of Positive Youth Development (PYD) for use with adolescents with CCs to address their unique circumstances. Expert ratings reduced 51 items selected from the Connecting Adolescents Beliefs and Behaviors survey to 16 items. Two exploratory factor analyses using orthogonal and oblique rotations further reduced the number of items to 12. Three factors emerged: PYD-Connections to Peers and Schools (α = .81), PYD-Connection to Family (α = .82), and PYD-Confidence (α = .89). Relations between these constructs and perceived health were assessed in healthy youth and youth with CCs. Youth with CCs reported feeling less healthy and worrying more about their health, and endorsed greater levels of feeling depressed. Compared with a matched sample of youth without CCs, youth with CCs had significantly higher correlations between both PYD-Confidence and composite PYD, and degree of health worry and feeling depressed, as well as between connection to peers and school and feeling depressed. The findings highlight the need for a measure of PYD specifically for adolescents with CCs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Indicators of positive youth development can be maladaptive: The example case of caring

IntroductionResearch on positive youth development typically takes a more-is-better approach in which higher scores on measures of positive youth development indicate better outcomes. We question the validity of this assumption and describe how an imbalance among the Five Cs of Positive Youth Development can lead to a situation where “more” is actually “less.” We then provide an empirical illustration using cross-sectional data. MethodsWe examined conditional associations between indicators of thriving and the C of caring using survey data obtained from a sample of 2,386 students in Norway (mean age 16.60 years [SD = 1.98]; 44.8% girls). Multilevel models assessed whether associations between caring and the thriving indicators (here defined as greater mental well-being and lower anxiety and depressive symptoms) differed when versus when not controlling for overall positive youth development. ResultsWhen positive youth development was not included as a covariate, caring was positively associated with mental well being and anxiety but not significantly associated with depressive symptoms. After adding positive youth development to the model, caring became less strongly associated with mental well-being, more strongly associated with anxiety, and significantly (positively) associated with depressive symptoms. ConclusionsOur results indicate that, after controlling for a set level of positive youth development, caring does not predict adaptive outcomes in a monotonic more-is-better way. These findings illustrate an instance where developmental regulations benefit the context at the cost of the individual and therefore speak to a growing acknowledgement in the literature—young people may suffer if they “care too much.”

Somebody’s Eyes are Watching: The Impact of Coaching Observations on Empowering Motivational Climates and Positive Youth Development

This paper addresses three key issues important to parks and recreation professionals. First, we provide a model of research that works directly with practitioners to address their identified needs in a manner that is least intrusive to their daily work, has the potential for immediate benefit to a parks and recreation program, and provides results that lead to future practical managerial implications. Second, we examine the impact of observing youth basketball coaches and providing feedback on the creation of an empowering motivational climate. Finally, we assess the relation of specific elements of empowering and disempowering motivational climates to positive youth development (PYD) outcomes both within and outside of sport. Eight youth teams, including eight coaches and 57 players, participated in the study. Half of the coaches were observed and provided feedback during the season, while half did not receive any feedback. At the conclusion of the season, players completed questionnaires related to their perceptions of the coach-created empowering and disempowering climate, as well as two measures of PYD. Results did not indicate a significant difference in perceived empowering and disempowering climates between coaches who were observed and coaches who were not observed. However, perceptions of the motivational climate did significantly predict PYD outcomes both within and outside of sport. After examining specific elements of the climate, components of an autonomy-supportive climate represented a significant predictor of PYD. Managerial implications include the potential value of observational feedback, though effective feedback likely requires multiple sessions and more detailed feedback. In addition, coaching behaviors such as explaining the rationale for decisions, and providing athletes with choices and input in decisions appear to be more likely to create desired outcomes. Thus, coaching education and training may wish to emphasize these behaviors. We conclude by offering insights from both the research team and a parks and recreation professional. In so doing, we provide a template for future research that addresses current disconnects between academic research and professional practice. Given the potential theoretical and practical impact of this research, future research may wish to replicate this model and continue to examine observational feedback through longer-term studies that provide more opportunities for observation and feedback.Subscribe to JPRA

Aligning Youth Development Theory, Measurement, and Practice Across Cultures and Contexts: Lessons from Use of the Developmental Assets Profile

The development of youth has implications across all sectors of societies, and thus, holistic approaches to promoting positive youth development that take an across-sectors perspective may be more effective and cost-efficient ways of investing in youth. The current interest in collective impact to improve outcomes for young people intersects with growing interest in a diverse array of social-emotional, non-cognitive, or “soft” attitudes and skills that are increasingly recognized as being foundational for multiple educational, workforce, and livelihoods outcomes. But these “intangible” factors are difficult to measure well, particularly when compared to observable behaviors or testable knowledge and skills. This challenge is exacerbated in lower and middle-income countries where there is limited research, and there are even fewer consistent, validated measures that examine personal strengths—particularly ones that are consistently contextualized and tested across cultural and language differences. For the past decade, Search Institute and several partners have utilized a broad measure of positive youth development, the Developmental Assets Profile (DAP), in a series of studies in a wide range of international agencies, countries, languages, and program contexts. This paper draws on 50 datasets from 31 countries, involving more than 25,000 young people, ages 9–31, to more comprehensively describe the strengths and issues involved in using the DAP for measurement of child well-being across cultures and language groups. In the process, it reports on the link between crosscutting elements of well-being and critical international development priorities across sectors. The longevity and breadth of this ongoing effort offers insights and lessons for more recent efforts to develop, operationalize, and validate practice-focused measures across multiple contexts and languages. It serves as a case study in the challenges and opportunities of developing and utilizing shared measures across multiple countries, cultures, and language groups.

Lithuanian version of measure of positive youth development based on the Five Cs model

The Five Cs model of PYD and associated instruments have received sound empirical support in the USA, but little validation in other cultural contexts. Moreover, initially measured as a second-order factor model, recently it has been reconsidered as a bifactor model. Our study aimed to compare the two proposed structures of the Five Cs model (second order vs. bifactor) and test whether the measure based on the Five Cs model was a valid instrument for use with Lithuanian adolescents. Analysis using the data of 1686 adolescents aged 14–20 (Mage = 16.61, SDage = 1.23, 52.8% girls) revealed that the bifactor PYD model fit well with the Lithuanian data and accounted for the variance in the data better than the second-order PYD model. Support for the bifactor model suggests that manifestations of the Five Cs can be partly explained by the general construct of PYD. Besides, the Five Cs may also have manifestations and associations that are independent of PYD. Further analyses of the Lithuanian version of PYD instrument supported invariance of the bifactor structure across gender groups, grade levels and socio-economic statuses. The study also demonstrated construct validity and internal consistency of PYD and all Cs, except competence. Overall, our findings suggest that the Lithuanian version of the measure can be used with late adolescents for assessment of PYD and the Five Cs in Lithuania.

Exposing young people to cooking and new foods: findings from a feasibility study in an alternative education setting.

The current study describes a feasibility study of an experiential cooking program for alternative education students. The aims were to identify potential areas for measuring impact (beyond nutrition) and to identify issues threatening the feasibility and evaluation of the program. Weekly cooking sessions were conducted in one alternative education center over a school term. Data were collected through weekly observations, a youth focus group, and staff interview. Observational data confirmed high levels of participation by students, willingness to try new foods, and enjoyment of foods prepared. Comments from the teacher and students emphasized the wider impact of the cooking sessions on positive youth development and cultural engagement, including opportunities for socio-emotional learning, team work, socializing with peers, and cultural blessings of food. Future studies should consider measures of positive youth development along with cooking skills and eating behaviors as potential outcomes.

Delinquent Behavior in High School Students in Hong Kong: Sociodemographic, Personal, and Family Determinants

Study ObjectiveOn the basis of longitudinal data collected over 6 years, the changes in delinquent behavior and the related sociodemographic, personal, and family determinants were examined in this study. Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome MeasuresA 6-year longitudinal research design was used. Students responded to a questionnaire containing sociodemographic questions and validated measures of positive youth development, family functioning, and delinquent behavior. ResultsThere was an increasing trend of delinquent behavior with the growth rate slowing down over the high school years. Male adolescents reported higher levels of delinquent behavior and showed a greater increase of delinquent behavior relative to female adolescents. Although positive youth development and family functioning were negatively associated with the initial level of delinquent behavior, they were positively associated with the growth rate of delinquent behavior over time. ConclusionDelinquent behavior could be described by a quadratic growth curve during high school years. Gender, positive youth development, and family functioning influence the level and developmental trajectory of delinquent behavior in adolescence.

Testing the Parent-Adolescent Acculturation Discrepancy Hypothesis: A Five-Wave Longitudinal Study.

This 2½-year, 5-wave longitudinal study tests the hypothesis that acculturation discrepancies between Hispanic immigrant parents and adolescents would lead to compromised family functioning, which would then lead to problematic adolescent outcomes. Recent-immigrant Hispanic parent-adolescent dyads (N = 302) completed measures of acculturation and family functioning. Adolescents completed measures of positive youth development, depressive symptoms, problem behavior, and substance use. Results indicated that Time 1 discrepancies in Hispanic-culture retention, and linear trajectories in some of these discrepancies, negatively predicted adolescent positive youth development, and positively predicted adolescent depressive symptoms and binge drinking, indirectly through adolescent-reported family functioning. The vast majority of effects were mediated rather than direct, supporting the acculturation discrepancy hypothesis. Implications for further research and intervention are discussed.

Do university students change after taking a subject on leadership and intrapersonal development?

AbstractThe changes in university students after taking a subject on leadership and intrapersonal development (“Tomorrow’s Leaders” at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) are presented in this paper. Adopting a pre-experimental design (one group pretest-posttest design), 1029 students responded to a questionnaire assessing different aspects of development, including measures of positive youth development and life satisfaction. While students showed positive changes in self-determination, thriving and life satisfaction, their scores declined in some measures of positive youth development. The present findings are consistent with the previous findings that the subject is able to promote the holistic development of university students in Hong Kong, but it also generated some odd findings to be clarified in future studies.

The students were happy, but did they change positively?

AbstractAt The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a 2-credit General Education subject entitled “Service Leadership” was developed to promote service leadership qualities (including leadership competencies, moral character, and caring disposition) in university students. The subject was piloted in one class with 60 students in the 2012/2013 academic year. Pretest and posttest data utilizing measures of positive youth development, life satisfaction, and service leadership qualities were collected. Positive changes in the program participants were found, particularly for measures in behavioral competence, moral competence, character strengths, general positive youth development qualities, and overall service leadership qualities. The present study provided preliminary support for the effectiveness of the subject in nurturing service leadership qualities of Chinese university students in Hong Kong.

Personal Well-Being and Family Quality of Life of Early Adolescents in Hong Kong: Do Economic Disadvantage and Time Matter?

Differences in personal well-being and family quality of life in Chinese adolescents with and without economic disadvantage as well as the related developmental trends were examined in a longitudinal study. Over three consecutive years, Chinese junior secondary school students responded to validated measures of positive youth development, risk behaviors and perceived family functioning. Consistent with our hypotheses, results showed that poor adolescents had poorer positive youth development and perceived family functioning than did non-poor adolescents. Although there was no difference between the poor and non-poor groups on substance abuse, significant interaction effect of poverty and time on substance abuse was observed. While there was a general drop in positive youth development and perceived family functioning over the years, adolescent risk behaviors gradually increased during the junior secondary school years in Hong Kong.

Compensated Dating in Hong Kong: Prevalence, Psychosocial Correlates, and Relationships with Other Risky Behaviors

Study ObjectiveWe sought to study the prevalence of the compensated dating (CD) phenomenon among early adolescents in Hong Kong and to identify psychosocial correlates of CD, particularly basic demographic factors, positive youth development (PYD) qualities, and perceived family functioning. Design and ParticipantsIn 2010, during the Wave 2 data collection of a 6-year longitudinal study on PYD in Hong Kong, 3,638 Grade 8 students were surveyed. Results(a) For prevalence rate of CD, less than 3% of the respondents had ever engaged in CD; (b) Males reported a higher percentage of CD than females did; (c) Different measures of PYD and perceived family functioning were negatively related to adolescents' CD behavior; (d) Higher levels of PYD and better mutual support, love, and concern among family members were related to a lower level of CD; and (e) A mild relationship was found between CD and substance abuse. ConclusionsAlthough the prevalence rate of CD was not high, it was alarming. CD was related to other forms of risky behavior. Higher levels of PYD and better family functioning were negatively related to CD.

Positive youth development, life satisfaction, and problem behaviors of adolescents in intact and non-intact families in Hong Kong.

This study investigated whether Chinese adolescents living in intact and non-intact families differed in their positive development, life satisfaction, and risk behavior. A total of 3,328 Secondary 1 students responded to measures of positive youth development (such as resilience and psychosocial competencies), life satisfaction, and risk behavior (substance abuse, delinquency, Internet addiction, consumption of pornographic materials, self-harm, and behavioral intention to engage in problem behavior). Findings revealed that adolescents growing up in intact families reported higher levels of positive developmental outcomes and life satisfaction as compared with adolescents from non-intact families. Adolescents in non-intact families also reported higher levels of risk behaviors than those growing up in intact families.

Consumption of pornographic materials among early adolescents in Hong Kong: profiles and psychosocial correlates

Consumption of pornographic materials was examined in 3328 Secondary 1 students in Hong Kong. Results showed that over 90% of the respondents had never consumed pornographic materials in the past year. Compared to traditional pornography, internet pornography was the most common medium that participants used when viewing pornographic materials. Males reported a higher level of pornography exposure than females did. Results showed that different measures of positive youth development and family functioning were related to adolescents’ consumption of pornographic materials. In general, higher levels of positive youth development and better family functioning were related to a lower level of pornography consumption. The relative contribution of positive youth development and family factors to consumption of pornographic materials was also explored.

Promotion as Prevention: Positive Youth Development as Protective against Tobacco, Alcohol, Illicit Drug, and Sex Initiation

The present study was designed to examine the association of positive youth development with the likelihood of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, hard drug, and sex initiation between 5th and 10th grades. A national, largely middle-class sample of 5,305 adolescents, participating in a longitudinal study funded by the National 4-H Council (although not all participants were enrolled in 4-H or other after-school programs), completed measures of positive youth development (PYD) constructs and of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and hard drug use once per year between 5th and 10th grades. At the 9th and 10th grade assessments, adolescents were asked whether they had initiated sexual intercourse and, if so, at what age they had first engaged in intercourse. Although the present sample was somewhat lower risk compared to national averages, survival analysis models indicated that PYD was significantly and negatively associated with the initiation hazards for tobacco use, marijuana use, and sex initiation for girls only, and with hard drug use for both genders. PYD was also positively associated with the odds of condom use across genders. Results are discussed with regard to PYD as a preventive process.

Intentional Self Regulation in Middle Adolescence: The Emerging Role of Loss-based Selection in Positive Youth Development

Intentional self regulation describes how people make choices, plan actions to reach their goals, and regulate the execution of their actions, making processes of intentional self regulation central to healthy human functioning. Prior research has confirmed the presence of three processes of intentional self regulation-elective selection (ES), optimization (O), and compensation (C)-in middle adolescence (Grades 8 through 10) and concurrent and predictive relationships with measures of Positive Youth Development (PYD). A fourth process, loss-based selection (LBS), should also develop by the end of middle adolescence. The present study used data from the 4-H Study of PYD to confirm the presence of a four-scale structure of intentional self regulation (ES, O, C, and LBS) in a sample of 2,357 racially diverse Grade 10 youth (63% female) and examine its covariation with indicators of positive and problematic development. Results supported the identification of a four-part structure of intentional self regulation, and scores covaried positively with indicators of PYD and negatively with substance use, delinquency, and depressive symptoms. Implications of the findings for the understanding of self-regulatory actions in adolescence and for future research are discussed.