Citation

Bowers EP, von Eye A, Lerner JV, Arbeit MR, Weiner MB, Chase P, Agans JP. J. Adolesc. 2011; 34(6): 1151-1165.

Affiliation

Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development, 307 Lincoln-Filene Building, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.07.007

PMID

22118508

Abstract

Two theoretical perspectives have been proposed to describe, explain, and intervene in adolescent development - prevention science and positive youth development (PYD). An integrative model bridging these two perspectives posits that it is important to assess the extent to which the same, similar, or complementary mechanisms may be responsible for preventing problem behavior and promoting PYD. Therefore, using data from the 4-H Study of PYD, the present study examines the role of assets in the family, school, and neighborhood in differentiating trajectories of goal-optimization and delinquency in a sample of 626 youth (50.9% female) from Grades 5 to 11. The results indicated that collective activity in the family best predicted membership for the five goal-optimization trajectories while school-based assets differentiated the four delinquency trajectories that were identified. The findings suggest that multidimensional approaches may be most effective to promote PYD and prevent problem behaviors.

Language: en