Strengths Of Youth Research Articles

The Well-Being of Youth with Complex Needs in Care Preparing to Transition to Adulthood

Youth with chronic developmental delays and comorbid psychological disorders (complex needs) who live in out-of-home care are at increased risk of difficulties in all life areas. Few studies have investigated factors that facilitate positive outcomes. This study investigated the strength of youth’s connections with caring adults as a significant mediator of social support and personal well-being. A convenience sample of 25 youth with a mean age of 18.14 years old who lived in a group home or semi-independent living settings rated their social support (instrumental and emotional), strength of connections, and personal well-being on self-report measures. Research questions were examined with correlation, regression, and mediation analyses. Older youth reported less instrumental social support; this type of support did not correlate with well-being. Emotional support correlated with well-being. Strong relationships with caring adults partially explained how youth who perceive more emotional support feel happier about their life overall. The findings of this study show how to support youth with complex needs in care during the challenge of transitioning to adulthood and provides evidence that allows us to identify the positive impact of perceived strong connections with caring adults. Perceived strength of relationships with caring adults has a great influence on their well-being. HIGHLIGHTS Youth in care with complex needs experience poor outcomes in the transition to adulthood. Perceived instrumental support was negatively correlated with age; older youth in care perceive less instrumental support. Emotional support predicts personal well-being, but instrumental support does not. Strong connections with adults help youth feel happy about their future outcomes.

Baseline Range of Motion, Strength, Motor Function, and Participation in Youth with Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome

Aims Limited information is available on impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions in youth with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), a rare genetic premature aging disease. The purposes were to: (1) describe range of motion (ROM), grip, pinch and quadriceps strength, functional balance, walking endurance, and gross motor limitations and participation restrictions; (2) evaluate the association between ROM impairments and age; and (3) evaluate the association between the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM) scores and lower extremity (LE) ROM, quadriceps strength, and age. Methods Upper and LE ROM, grip, pinch and quadriceps strength, Timed Up and Go (TUG), Six Minute Walk Test, GMFM-88, and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure data were recorded for 38 participants with HGPS. Results All youth exhibited ROM impairments and most displayed decreased grip and pinch strength, walking endurance, and gross motor skills when compared to same-aged peers. However, the majority had good functional balance with TUG scores in the normal range. Participation restrictions included difficulty keeping up with peers when walking and difficulty completing activities of daily living. Some ROM measurements were negatively associated with age indicating that older participants had more extensive ROM limitation than younger participants. Conclusions Physical and occupational therapists can use this information when evaluating youth with HGPS, designing a plan of care, and providing treatment interventions.

Positivity in Action: Character Education through the Positivity Project

Recently, a new program – The Positivity Project (P2; https://posproject.org/) – has been developed to address key implementation challenges for teachers. P2 is a professional development program focused on teacher’s use of project-based learning and a universal student character education curriculum that provides educators and students with tools to support socio-emotional skills through daily, 15-minute learning modules across the school year. In this article, we (a) explain the theory informing P2, (b) detail key implementation components, (c) include real-life accounts from students and teachers using P2 across K-12 and alternative settings, and (d) provide suggestions for evaluating the impact of P2 for those schools considering implementation. The P2 program is informed by positive psychology, a strengths-based approach to instruction that is well-suited to support students with disabilities. Currently, there is promising evidence of P2 effectiveness that could be classified as practice-based evidence (see https://posproject.org/). Schools wishing to explore use of P2 may wish to consider the best ways to measure the effectiveness of the program. One option is the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth, which was developed to assess the 24 character strengths from positive psychology and has been translated into multiple languages.

Can you See What We See? African American Parents’ Views of the Strengths and Challenges of Children and Youth Living with Adversity

A premise of positive youth development is that social competencies can develop in adversity and co-exist with problem behaviors. This research tested whether African American youth ages 9–17 who had experienced significant family stressors would form groups that displayed combinations of adversity, problem behavior, and strengths. Parents of a nationally representative sample of African Americans children were interviewed on child difficulties and strengths as part of the CDC’s 2019 National Health Interview Survey. About 15% of the national sample of African American youth had experienced violence or parental incarceration, depression, or drug abuse. Latent class analysis (LCA) using indicators of adversity and strengths identified four distinct classes. Class 1 included youth who experienced multiple adversities, exhibited few strengths, and were high in behavior problems. Members of both classes 2 and 3 were more likely to experience parental incarceration but exhibited altruism. Class 3 also experienced parental mental health problems. Members of class 4 had the highest exposure to violence but were comparatively high in altruism and affability. Regression analysis revealed that the groups differed from one another on emotional health but not on physical health controlling for age and gender. These findings support a focus by mental health prevention programs on building on the strengths of children growing up in adversity.

"Sharpening Your Mind, Strengthening Your Body" Parental Perceptions on the Use of Strength and Conditioning in Children and Youth.

Although strength and conditioning is beneficial and safe for children to engage in there remain myths and misconceptions form parents regarding its use which prevent its widespread take up. This study explored parents’ attitudes and beliefs about strength and conditioning in their children. Thirty-one parents (21 dads, 10 mums) took part in one of four focus groups exploring the topic. Thematic analysis was used resulting in themes and sub themes centred on: Beliefs; Determinants; Coach Education; Coach Communication; and Relationship to the Game. There were also smaller aspects of the focus groups which touched upon autonomy as a concept related to implementation of strength and conditioning specifically. Overall, parents of children who play grassroots sport hold generally positive perceptions on use of strength and conditioning with their children, considering it beneficial for both physical and mental development. Key factors relating to successful implementation of strength and conditioning for children focus on having a qualified coach in that particular area (rather than a generic sports coach), effective communication between coach and parents, and coach and children in terms of the benefits of engaging with strength and conditioning.

Assessing Strength and Power in Youth Populations

Apply it! After reading this article, exercise professionals will be able to: • Understand why it is useful to assess strength and power in youth. • Appreciate why it is important to consider maturity and size when assessing the strength and power of youth. • Identify different tests that can be used to assess strength and power in youth, depending on available resources. • Report results to different audiences, including children and their parent(s)/guardian(s), coaches, and exercise professionals.

An examination of a juvenile justice diversion program for youth with mental health needs and traumatic stress symptoms: a strengths-based approach

ABSTRACT Mental health and traumatic stress symptoms are prevalent in juvenile offenders, yet research on diversion programs rarely examine these important outcomes. Program duration and the role of protective factors are also understudied in this literature. This study examined the impact of program duration and youth protective factors on mental health and traumatic stress symptoms of 713 youth participating in an Illinois diversion program. Overall, the more time youth spent in the diversion program, the more improvement they demonstrated in mental health and trauma symptoms. Both program duration and number of youth strengths at program entry were significantly associated with improvement in mental health and traumatic stress symptoms. Findings highlight the importance of program duration and suggest that youth protective factors should be identified early on and targeted to maximize the impact of juvenile justice diversion programs on mental health and trauma symptoms.

Kick-starting youth wellbeing and access to mental health care: Efficacy of an integrated model of care within a junior sports development program

One productive avenue for building adolescents' personal strengths and reducing mental health problems is integrating assessment and intervention into organised sports programs. We investigated the efficacy of the RISE program, a rugby league development program for 12- to 15-year-old boys, which integrated a mental health and wellbeing system called Life-Fit-Learning. The Life-Fit System is designed to measure youth's strengths and mental health symptoms and sends mental health feedback to parents, provides group-based workshops, connects youth and parents to online psychoeducation resources, and provides individual telephone follow-up and referral with parents of youth at high-risk for mental health problems. In this study, mental health and wellbeing outcomes were compared in participants who did (RISE, N = 94) and did not (Comparison, N = 82) receive the RISE/Life-Fit-Learning program. RISE players reported their self-satisfaction, grit, gratitude, prosocial behaviour, anxiety, depression, and behavioural problems using the Life-Fit System pre- and post-program. Comparison participants completed measures twice, 6-months apart. Self-satisfaction did not change in RISE participants but declined among comparison participants. In both groups, 26% of players scored in the high-risk range on at least one mental health measure. On mental health measures, high-risk RISE players' depression and behavioural problems improved from pre-to post-program relative to no change among Comparison players. Among participants who were not high-risk, RISE players' anxiety, depression, and behavioural problems did not change whereas Comparison players' behavioural problems increased significantly. Results underscore the value of integrating strengths-based interventions and targeting youth mental health problems within the context of junior sports development programs.

Preliminary development of a multidimensional positive youth development scale for young rural and urban adolescents in China

This study examined the dimensionality, reliability, and validity of a Chinese version of the 5-C Model of positive youth development (PYD), originally developed in the U.S., with a sample of rural and urban young adolescents in China. The Cs represent five youth strengths: competence, confidence, character, caring, and connection. The results of the exploratory factor analyses showed a reasonable data fit with the 5-C Model. The total and subscale scores evinced good internal reliability (α = .7 to .9) and the confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the convergence of the five Cs on a second-order latent factor of PYD, showing adequate goodness of fit (CFI = 0.94; TLI = 0.93; RMSEA = 0.04). Metric and scalar invariance were found across gender. Metric and partial scalar invariance were found for rural-urban groups. Supportive evidence on convergent and discriminatory validity was also found. We conclude that the Chinese version of the 5-C PYD Scale is a reliable and valid instrument, with good construct validity for Chinese young adolescents.

The New Calling

The New Calling

Character strengths as protective factors against behavior problems in early adolescent

Character strengths could effectively prevent negative psychological outcomes in adults. However, there was little research conducted among early adolescents. The present study aimed to explore character strengths that were independently related to fewer behavior problems in early adolescents. In total, 521 early adolescents (mean age 10.92 ± 0.04, range 10–12 years) were recruited from primary schools in Sichuan, China. Character strengths were measured using the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth (VIA-Youth). Behavior problems were measured using the Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire (PSQ). The results showed that behavior problems were negatively correlated with character strengths (r = −0.14 to −0.3, p < 0.05 Bonferroni corrected). Character strengths explained a significant proportion of additional variance (14–22%) in five types of behavior problems after controlling the effect of demographic factors (residence, left-behind experiences, maternal education level). Moreover, several specific character strengths showed an independent contribution (β = −0.34 to −0.14 for self-regulation, perseverance, zest, humility, and leadership; β = 0.21 to 0.34, for hope; all p < 0.05) to behavior problems. Our study revealed that character strengths were protective factors against behavior problems in early adolescents.

Youth-led resilience promotion during disaster recovery: A proposed framework, innovative program, and lessons learned.

Disasters, such as a school shooting or a global pandemic, harm psychological health and necessitate recovery. To complement adult-led disaster recovery and trauma-specific approaches, we propose a Youth-Led Resilience Promotion (YLRP) framework focusing on: (a) multitiered change, (b) resilience goals, (c) a promotion mindset, (d) youth strengths, (e) prosocial behaviors, and (f) capacity building through partnerships. The YLRP framework guided the development of a YLRP program in the aftermath of the Chardon High School shooting in Chardon, OH, which is detailed in a case study. As part of a Community-Academic Partnership, 20 college student trainers delivered a multitiered, multicomponent resilience promotion intervention: universal resilience promotion to 1,070 high school students; targeted resilience promotion to 200 student leaders through workshops; and indicated resilience promotion to 30 student leaders through mentoring. Student leaders formed a youth-led, afterschool club to advance relational resilience through prosocial strategies. Lessons learned from implementing the YLRP program for 6 years (2012-2017) are provided to guide YLRP program developers and program implementers. A youth-led program equipping youth leaders to engage in prosocial strategies may contribute to the psychological resilience and recovery of students after a school shooting, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and other potentially traumatic events. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Power training alters somatosensory cortical activity of youth with cerebral palsy.

ObjectiveOur prior magnetoencephalographic (MEG) investigations demonstrate that persons with cerebral palsy (CP) have weaker somatosensory cortical activity than neurotypical (NT) controls, which is associated with reduced muscular strength and mobility. Power training can improve lower extremity isokinetic strength, muscular power, and walking performance of youth with CP. Potentially, these clinically relevant improvements are partially driven by changes in somatosensory processing. The objective of this investigation was to determine if power training has complementary changes in muscular function and somatosensory cortical activity in youth with CP.MethodsA cohort of youth with CP (N = 11; age = 15.90 ± 1.1 years) and NT controls (N = 10; Age = 15.93 ± 2.48 years) participated in this investigation. Youth with CP underwent 24 power training sessions. Pre‐post bilateral leg press 1‐repetition maximum (1RM), peak power production, 10‐m walking speed, and distance walked 1‐min were used as outcome measures. MEG neuroimaging assessed the changes in somatosensory cortical activity while at rest. NT controls only underwent a baseline MEG assessment.ResultsYouth with CP had a 56% increase in 1RM (p < 0.001), a 33% increase in peak power production (p = 0.019), and a 4% improvement in 1‐min walk (p = 0.029). Notably, there was a 46% increase in somatosensory cortical activity (p = 0.02).InterpretationThese results are the first to show that power training is associated with improvements in muscular function, walking performance, and the resting somatosensory cortical activity in individuals with CP. This treatment approach might be advantageous due to the potential to promote cortical and muscular plasticity, which appear to have carryover effects for improved walking performance.

Character Strengths in Adults and Adolescents: Their Measurement and Association with Well-Being

Character strengths are assessed in adults and adolescents using different measurements. However, a comparison of character strengths across age groups requires the equivalence of these measurements. The present study examined the comparability of the two questionnaires most frequently used in research: The VIA Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) for adults and the VIA Inventory of Strengths for Youth (VIA-Youth). A sample of N = 170 high-school students in the age of about 18 years and up to two informants (N = 164 mostly parents; N = 156 mostly friends and partners) completed both character strengths questionnaires and several well-being questionnaires. The psychometric characteristics and the correlations with well-being scales were examined once exclusively on the basis of self-rating and once on the basis of combined self- and informant-ratings. Substantial differences between the questionnaires were found in each of the criteria examined (e.g., identification of signature strengths, or largest associations with well-being). The results indicate that VIA-IS and VIA-Youth measure character strengths differently, so that a comparison across age groups may lead to biased conclusions. Therefore, differences in character strengths between adults and adolescents should not be exclusively interpreted in terms of differences on the trait level as these differences may be caused by nonequivalent questionnaires.

The Effects of High-Intensity Functional Training Compared with Traditional Strength or Endurance Training on Physical Performance in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract Gavanda, S, Isenmann, E, Geisler, S, Faigenbaum, A, and Zinner, C. The effects of high-intensity functional training compared with traditional strength or endurance training on physical performance in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial. J Strength Cond Res 36(3): 624–632, 2022—High-intensity functional training (HIFT) integrates different modes of exercise into training sessions performed at a relatively high intensity. Although HIFT is becoming more popular in youth strength and conditioning programs, research comparing the effects of HIFT with traditional forms of training, such as strength training (ST) or endurance training (ET) in younger populations are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of HIFT with those of ST and ET on strength and endurance performance in adolescents. Fifty-two untrained adolescents ( JOURNAL/jscr/04.03/00124278-202203000-00005/5FFU1/v/2023-10-16T001806Z/r/image-tiff = 26; JOURNAL/jscr/04.03/00124278-202203000-00005/5FFU2/v/2023-10-16T001806Z/r/image-tiff = 26; 17.3 ± 1.0 years) were randomly assigned to a HIFT, ST, ET, or control group. The intervention groups trained twice a week for 6 weeks with a training duration of 60–75 minutes per session. Performance was assessed before and after the intervention with the countermovement jump (CMJ), 20-m sprint (20 m), 3-repetition maximum back squat (3RM), and Yo-Yo test. The HIFT group made significant improvements in all performance tests (CMJ, +28.5 ± 27.6%; p &gt; 0.001; 20-m time, −3.9 ± 5.0%; p = 0.002; 3RM, +34.3 ± 23.3%; p &gt; 0.001; Yo-Yo, +14.5 ± 15.2%; p = 0.003), whereas the ST group improved in CMJ (+38.3 ± 27.7%; p &gt; 0.001), 3RM (+22.2 ± 11.2%; p &gt; 0.001), and Yo-Yo (+12.2 ± 21.4%; p = 0.013) and the ET group improved in CMJ (+23.4 ± 29.9%; p = 0.001), 20-m time (−5.2 ± 4.6%; p &gt; 0.001), and Yo-Yo (+30.7 ± 37.3%; p &gt; 0.001). No significant differences between the groups were evident when the results were compared for sex. These results indicate that HIFT is an effective training method for eliciting multifaceted improvements in strength, power, and endurance measures as compared with ET or ST alone in untrained adolescents.

Egypt’s Youth Issues and Their Enlightenment to China’s Youth Work

The issues of youth concern the country’s internal affairs, diplomacy and future development. Under the influence of economic, political, historical and demographic factors at home and abroad in Egypt, the problems closely related to Egyptian youth, such as unfair education and high unemployment rate, have not been well solved, which has become an important factor in Egypt’s turbulent situation. The Communist Party of China attaches great importance to youth and youth work, insists on taking economic construction as the center, actively solves youth problems such as education and employment, gathers youth strength, and promotes the harmonious development of society.

Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Temperance Scale in Adolescents.

Recent research has shown the relevance of measuring the virtue of temperance. The present study tested a multidimensional and second-order structure scale to assess temperance using a sub-scale of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth (VIA-Youth). Scale properties were tested using data from a sample of 860 adolescents aged from 12 to 18 years old (M = 14.28 years, SD = 1.65). The sample was randomly split into two subsamples for model cross-validation. Using the first sample, we assessed scale dimensionality, measurement invariance, and discriminant and concurrent validity. A second sample was used for model cross-validation. Confirmatory factorial analysis confirmed the fit of one second-order factor temperance virtue model, with the dimensions of forgiveness, modesty, prudence, and self-control. The results indicate scale measurement equivalence across gender and stage of adolescence (early vs. middle). Latent means difference tests showed significant differences in forgiveness, modesty, and self-regulation by gender, and modesty according to adolescence stage. Moreover, the scale showed discriminant and concurrent validity. These findings indicate that this scale is helpful for assessing temperance in adolescents and suggest the value of temperance as a multidimensional and second-order construct.

Life Satisfaction and Character Strenghs in Ecuatorian Adolescents

There is empirical evidence that life satisfaction (LS) in adolescence is associated with adequate development and future well-being. Research into the factors underpinning LS can therefore help to promote healthier development of societies. The aim of this study was to extend knowledge about LS among adolescents in Ecuador, a Latin American country for which research on this topic is lacking. Specifically, we analyze the relationship between LS and character strengths, controlling for gender, age, socioeconomic status, and family structure. Participants were 659 adolescents (43.1% female) aged between 12 and 18 years who completed the Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS) and the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth (VIA-Y). Their parents or legal guardians completed the Survey of Socioeconomic Stratification (SSES). Correlation analysis and regression modeling were performed. Results showed that LS was not related to age or socioeconomic status, but there was a significant association with gender and family structure, insofar as boys and adolescents living in intact families reported higher levels of LS. Overall, the majority of character strengths were positively related to LS. After eliminating overlap between strengths and controlling for sociodemographic variables, the strengths of hope, zest, love, and prudence significantly predicted LS. We discuss how these strengths, related to the cognitive component of well-being, may play a protective role against difficulties during adolescence. Character strengths-based interventions are proposed to promote healthy development in Ecuadorian adolescents.

What I Wish You Knew: Insights on Burnout, Inertia, Meltdown, and Shutdown From Autistic Youth.

Introduction: Burnout, inertia, meltdown, and shutdown (BIMS) have been identified as important parts of some autistic people’s lives. This study builds on our previous work that offered early academic descriptions of these phenomena, based on the perspectives of autistic adults.Objectives: This study aimed to explore the unique knowledge and insights of eight autistic children and youth to extend and refine our earlier description of burnout, inertia, and meltdown, with additional exploration of shutdown. We also aimed to explore how these youth cope with these phenomena and what others around them do that make things better or worse, with a hope to glean knowledge to design better supports.Methods: One-to-one interviews were conducted with eight children and youth, who shared their experience with BIMS. To match individual communication strengths of children and youth, we took a flexible approach to interviews, allowing for augmentative communication systems and use of visual images to support verbal interviews, as needed. We conducted a reflexive, inductive thematic analysis, using an iterative process of coding, collating, reviewing, and mapping themes.Findings: Our analysis has identified that these youth describe BIMS as a multi-faceted experience involving emotional, cognitive and physical components. Moreover, these multifaceted experiences are often misunderstood by neurotypical adults, which contributes to inadequate support in managing BIMS. Of the four experiences, these youth identified meltdowns as most common.Conclusion: By gaining first-hand perspectives, we have identified novel insights into BIMS and developed a more holistic understanding of these phenomena. These youths’ descriptions of supportive strategies for BIMS stress the importance of compassion and collaboration from trusted adults. This new knowledge will provide a foundation for how to better support autistic children and youth. Further research is required to develop an understanding of BIMS, especially with respect to how it is experienced by children and youth. Future research should leverage the insights and experiential knowledge of autistic children and youth to co-design support tool(s) for BIMS.

A Mixed Methods Approach Exploring Risk Factors Associated with Cyber Dating Victimization and Resilience in Adolescents and Emerging Adults

ABSTRACT The use of technology as a communication tool among youth has fostered opportunities for harassment, stalking or pressuring in romantic relationships. There is a paucity of studies exploring the links between childhood victimization experiences and cyber dating violence (DV) and how youth positively adapt to such experiences. This mixed methods study documents the effects of individual, familial, and social risks associated with cyber DV while exploring strenghts and protective factors in victimized youth’s narratives. A sample of 332 heterosexual youths and emerging adults (mean age 19.9 years) completed a survey exploring romantic and sexual trajectories and 16 participants reporting cyber victimization participated in semi-structured interviews. Results indicated that younger age, exposure to interparental violence, neglect, and a lower level of perceived support from a friend predicted cyber DV, whereas gender, emotional violence, sexual abuse, and perceived parental support were not significant predicting factors. When facing cyber DV and relational difficulties, participants expressed strengths illustrating their resilience: self-regulatory strength (e.g., considering a breakup as an opportunity for self-care), meaning making strength (e.g., thinking that a partner may not have been the right person), and interpersonal strength (e.g., being thankful for support provided by a trusted person). Fostering social support and multiple strengths of youth constitute promising avenues for effective cyber DV interventions.