Session: Promoting Healthy Youth Development: Examining Protective Factors and Developmental Assets (Society for Prevention Research 22nd Annual Meeting)

One of the core aims of prevention and health promotion research includes enhancement of healthy and positive behaviors. Some have argued that positive youth development and prevention science are at odds with each other but others have suggested that factors that reduce risk and problem behaviors can also promote positive behaviors (Catalano, Hawkins, Berglund, Pollard, & Arthur, 2002).  Although much is known about adolescent risks and problem behaviors, less is known about protective factors and developmental assets. In this symposium, we will present a range of studies that highlight different aspects of health youth development by examining both etiological and intervention questions about protective factors and developmental assets.

The first presenter will discuss how protective factors develop during adolescence. Using longitudinal data from self-reported youth surveys of 2,002 youth living in 12 small towns across 7 US states, measures of protective factors were assessed between grades 5 and 10. Findings indicate that most protective factors decrease during adolescent period and although trajectory over time does not differ by gender females generally maintain higher levels of protective factors compared to males.

The second presenter will discuss civic engagement as an important element for promoting positive development. In examining the relationship between civic activity and well-being among youth during the first year of college, findings suggest that civic engagement may be one vehicle for promoting healthy attitudes and behaviors among college students.

The third presenter will discuss the effect of school-based mental health prevention programs on developmental assets. Findings suggest that students’ use of services is positively related to developmental assets. However, students’ use of services varied across racial/ethnic background and thus impacted the effect of the programs on students of color. 

This symposium offers a unique opportunity to understand a range of constructs that measure factors important for positive youth development. These papers demonstrate important insight in developing age, gender, and culturally appropriate prevention programs that promote positive youth development.