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Introduction: This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Project SCORE intervention in fostering Positive Youth Development (PYD) within competitive youth sport settings in Portugal. Project SCORE is an online PYD-focused tool developed to assist coaches in promoting the 4Cs-competence, confidence, connection, and character-within their coaching. Methods: The research involved 13 coaches and 70 youth athletes from football and rowing teams. Methodologically, this study analyzed the pre- and post- Project SCORE intervention data, assessing the perceptions of coaches and athletes towards the development of the 4Cs. Results: Results indicated significant improvements in athletes' perceptions of 4Cs post-intervention, and among coaches' perceptions, there was a significant improvement in the practice and transfer of life skills. Particularly, coaches showed enhanced abilities in fostering life skills and facilitating the transfer of these skills to competitive environments, although some dimensions like sport climate did not sustain positive changes. Discussion: The findings highlight the benefits of customized PYD-based programs in competitive youth sports and suggest the need for further research to enhance their widespread and consistent implementation.

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The Indian education system has produced top-class global corporate leaders in recent decades. The combination of a solid educational foundation, work ethic, adaptability, technical and analytical skills, leadership abilities, networking, entrepreneurial spirit, and cultural values collectively contribute to the success of Indian students and professionals in the corporate world. On the contrary, India's overall performance in Olympic sports has been modest compared to its population and potential. The education system of any country has a significant role in sporting success. To fully harness the potential of sports in schools, addressing these challenges and creating a supportive environment that values and promotes sporting abilities alongside academic excellence is essential. This will require concerted efforts from various stakeholders, including the schooling system, educational institutions, government, sports organizations, corporate sponsors, and the community. This white paper aims to systematically organize the available knowledge and debates around India's sporting performance in the background of mainstream education culture. This paper also addresses the systemic devaluation, exclusion, disfranchisement, and stereotyping of sports and sportspersons in India. One key argument put forward in this paper is to extend absolute equivalence to Olympic sports disciplines (e.g., football) at par with general academic disciplines (e.g., mathematics) in terms of examinations and award of qualifications within the mainstream education system of India. And India must host the Olympics before 2047.

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INTRODUCTION: Using the Five Cs model of positive youth development (PYD), this study aimed to provide a socio-structural and cultural understanding of PYD in Indigenous Tayal youth by examining the specificity in the development of Five Cs (Competence, Confidence, Character, Caring, and Connection) between Tayal and Han youth in Taiwan. METHODS: A sample of 847 Tayal and Han adolescents (43.8% Tayal, 47.9% girls, Mage = 14.83, SD = 0.50) were drawn from a larger study (September 2014 to August 2017). Adolescent participants completed questionnaires asking about their Five Cs, contribution behavior, and depressive symptomatology. RESULTS: Measurement invariance was conducted to explore specificity between Tayal and Han youth's Five Cs performance. A bi-factor Five Cs model was identified and partial metric and partial scalar measurement invariance was established between the two samples. Across both groups an overarching PYD factor, which was associated with increased contribution and lower depressive symptomatology, was identified. Specificity was observed in the Tayal sample, particularly relating to indicators of Competence, Character, Caring, and Connection. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study provide a sociocultural-informed lens regarding the specificity of development in Tayal youth. Character, Caring, and Connection appear to contribute significantly more to the overall PYD for Tayal adolescents than their Han peers. Findings relating to Competence suggest that the educational environment may not be aligned with the learning style of Tayal youth. This study has policy and practical implications for Tayal youth, and can further help inform program development in Taiwan and internationally.

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Grit, defined as passion and perseverance to achieve long-term goals, has been associated with adolescents' optimal academic and psychological functioning. However, the role of grit in adolescents' positive youth development (PYD)-characterized by the 5Cs known as competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring-remains unknown. Using latent cross-lagged panel modeling, this study examined the longitudinal relations between the triarchic model of grit (TMG) dimensions (i.e., perseverance of effort, consistency of interest, and adaptability to situations), and the 5Cs of PYD while controlling for specific socio-demographic covariates (gender, age, SES, and school type). Data were obtained from 1620 Filipino adolescents (Mage = 17.15; SDage = 1.00) in November 2021 and May 2022. Results show that grit dimensions predicted subsequent PYD dimensions, but not vice versa. Specifically, while perseverance and adaptability were linked to higher levels of competence, confidence, and character, consistency was associated with lower levels of competence and confidence six months later. Results highlight the importance of grit's dimensions in facilitating PYD characteristics among adolescents, especially efficacy-related Cs (competence and confidence). Theoretical and practical implications in promoting adolescent thriving and well-being are discussed.

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Suicide in young people is a public health problem. Typically, protective factors for suicide are not studied; research tends to focus on measuring risk factors. However, knowing the risk factors does not mean that we also know the opposing factors that influence a group's health problems. For this reason, we examined the relationship between developmental assets in Mexican youth aged 18 to 25 years who are not at risk for suicide, exhibit self-injurious behavior, and whose last suicide attempt had low or high lethality. A cross-sectional study of 478 young people (73% female and 27% male) from Mexico City was conducted using an online survey and correlations were tested with dummy variables (groups) and multinomial logistic regression. The no-risk group showed associations with all developmental assets, the self-injurious group had an association with the house rules variable, the low lethality group was correlated with twelve assets and the high lethality group with four assets. Four internal developmental strengths were significant in the regression model: avoidance of risk behaviors, school expectations, resistance to pressure, and expression of anger. These results suggest that PYD is a useful framework for examining suicide risk and promotes skill development in young college students.

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BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption among young people is a significant public health concern. Previous studies have indicated that participation in sports, through the positive experiences it offers, may function as a protective factor against alcohol intake. This study aimed to examine the influence of enjoyment and personal fulfillment on adolescent alcohol use, exploring the role of engagement with sports as a mediating variable. METHODS: A total of 370 adolescents (mean age = 15.08; SD = 1.48) participated in the study and completed the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, the Enjoyment in Sports Scale, and the Athlete Engagement Questionnaire. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that enjoyment is related to lower alcohol consumption through personal fulfillment and engagement in sporting activity. CONCLUSIONS: It is crucial to facilitate positive experiences in sport that promote engagement and generate a sense of personal fulfillment, as these factors may reduce the likelihood of risky alcohol consumption.

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INTRODUCTION: The term contribution is a key feature of approaches to positive youth development but has yet to be adequately defined. The purposes of this study were to identify properties that underlie contribution and to establish a theoretical definition of the construct. METHODS: A two-phase scoping review was conducted. The first phase involved the systematic search, selection, and analysis of studies from which six properties of contribution were identified and a preliminary theoretical definition was constructed. In the second phase expert judges rated the degree to that the proposed definition and the six properties of contribution fit with their conceptualization of the construct on a 6-point scale. RESULTS: Mean ratings for the definition and the six properties ranged from 5.05 to 5.70. Judges' ratings for the overall definition of contribution and the six properties were evaluated using Aiken's content validity coefficient (V). All V coefficients ranged in size from 0.81 to 0.94 and were statistically significant (p's < .01) indicating that the definition of contribution and the corresponding six properties fit well with experts' conceptualizations of the construct. CONCLUSION: This study provides a theoretical definition of contribution that will serve as a foundation upon which future research in the area of positive youth development can build.

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BACKGROUND: Youth violence, victimization, and bullying are pervasive in schools across the United States and are detrimental for learning and healthy development. K-12 school safety is an increasingly urgent issue to research and understand from multiple perspectives. Physical and psychological safety in school is linked to better student and school outcomes and is fundamental to fostering well-being and prosocial behavior. METHODS: Despite research demonstrating positive outcomes associated with school safety, there is no comprehensive conceptual model in the literature that considers precursors, strategies, mechanisms, and outcomes of school safety together. The current paper presents an equity-centered comprehensive model of school safety, which is intended as a holistic representation of the multiple factors and pathways that contribute to school safety and positive youth development. RESULTS: This model can guide research and practice through an equity-centered and comprehensive approach. This model can enable practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to make informed decisions and reach consensus regarding planning and decisions related to reducing violence and establishing supportive school environments. CONCLUSION: Our model suggests that a comprehensive approach can ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff. By thinking ecologically, schools, communities, and stakeholders can ensure that all aspects of the school context are included in school safety.

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This study examines how the 8-week Hoosier Sport program impacts cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks by promoting physical activity (PA) among rural, low-income children. Using a human-centered participatory co-design approach, the program aimed to increase PA levels (e.g., total PA, daily steps) in at-risk children. The present study explored the feasibility of the intervention as well as physiological and psychological changes across the intervention using a hybrid type 2 design (a model that evaluates both the effectiveness of an intervention and its implementation in real-world settings). Favorable feasibility indicators like attendance, acceptability, and compliance, with a 23.3% recruitment rate and 94.3% retention rate, were observed. Moreover, participants attended over 80% of sessions across the 8 weeks. Accelerometers (AX3) tracked daily steps and total PA for 7 days before and after the intervention, revealing increased PA levels throughout. At post-intervention, notable improvements were observed in psychological factors such as autonomy, social competence, and global self-worth. This study highlights the importance of tailored PA interventions in schools, emphasizing their potential to improve PA levels among rural, low-income children.

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BACKGROUND: Deviant behaviors are common during adolescence. Despite the diversity of juvenile delinquency, the patterns of deviant behaviors remain unclear in ethnic minorities. The present study aimed to evaluate the latent heterogeneity of deviant behaviors and associated factors in ethnic minority Yi adolescents. METHODS: The present study recruited a large sample of 1931 ethnic minority Yi adolescents (53.4% females, mean age = 14.7 years, SD 1.10) in five secondary schools in 2022 in Sichuan, China. The participants completed measures on 13 deviant behaviors and demographic characteristics, attitudinal self-control, and psychological distress. Sample heterogeneity of deviant behaviors was analyzed via latent class analysis using class as the cluster variable. RESULTS: The data supported three latent classes with measurement invariance by sex. 68.2%, 28.0%, and 3.8% of the sample were in the Normative, Borderline, and Deviant class, with minimal, occasional, and extensive deviant behaviors, respectively. The Deviant class was more prevalent in males (6.5%) than females (1.6%). There were significant class differences in domestic violence, school belonging, self-control, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Males, domestic violence, low school belonging, and impaired self-control significantly predicted higher odds of the Deviant and Borderline classes compared to the normative class. CONCLUSION: This study provided the first results on three latent classes of deviant behaviors with distinct profiles in ethnic minority adolescents in rural China. These results have practical implications to formulate targeted interventions to improve the psycho-behavioral functioning of the at-risk adolescents in ethnic minorities.

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Youth exposed to community violence and neighborhood stressors report devastating mental health consequences. Black youth are at greater risk and experience community violence at rates higher than other youth populations. An underexplored mental health consequence is anxiety sensitivity, the fear of experiencing anxiety-related symptoms, which contributes to maladaptive coping strategies and the development and severity of other mental health problems. This study utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine socio-ecological risk and protective factors associated with community violence exposure and anxiety sensitivity among low-income Black youth. Survey data are from a sample of 320 Black youth residing in public and subsidized housing in a Northeastern city in the United States. Results indicated that neighborhood risk, parenting behaviors, and exposure to delinquent peers were indirectly associated with anxiety sensitivity, which occurred through community violence exposure. Additionally, neighborhood risks had direct effects on anxiety sensitivity. Results point to the need to incorporate social and environmental factors in interventions addressing anxiety sensitivity among Black youth in urban communities.

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According to self-determination theory (SDT), relationships that support the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are essential to youth development. It is yet unknown whether adolescents differ in what constitutes "optimal" supplies of support. This research proposes methodological extensions to analyze how the degree of fit or misfit between needs versus supplies in support (i.e., from teachers, parents, and peers) relates to engagement in class, academic achievement, and well-being. Data were collected on 389 adolescents (M(age) = 14.3, SD(age) = 2.1, 58% female, low to high SES). Extending SDT's contention that "the more supplies the better", results suggest that the impact of supplies actually depends on the level of needs, and that commensurate (for parents) or surplus supplies (for teachers, peers) are most optimal. Therefore, while some youth require strongly supportive relationships to experience optimal development, others require much lower support, and may even suffer from higher support.

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Introduction: Positive Youth Development (PYD) is a strength-based perspective that focuses on the resources to promote a successful transition to adulthood, derived from the Relational Developmental Systems theory. In this line, the Developmental Assets (DA) model focuses on describing the personal resources (Internal Assets) and contextual resources (External Assets) that help to reach PYD. Most research from this approach has been carried out in United States and, to a lesser extent, in the European continent. The aim of this scoping review was to examine the evidence collected for the DA model in Europe. Methods: Web of Science database was used to search for articles published between 2013 and February 2024. Initially, there were 55 possible articles to be included, but after applying the exclusion criteria, this number was reduced to 11. Results: The findings suggested that the evidence for DA in Europe was in line with North American research, so that a higher presence of DA was related to higher well-being, better psychological adjustment, and lower risk behaviors. Internal Assets were the most influential assets, with the Positive Identity category being especially remarkable. Commitment to Learning and Social Competencies were also highlighted in the studies included in the review. Concerning External Assets, Positive Boundaries-expectations and Empowerment were emphasized as protective factors in youth development. These assets were found to present a protective effect against risk behaviors and were positively associated with PYD and socioemotional skills. Discussion: Thus, these findings support the applicability of the DA framework in promoting PYD in European context, and some intervention strategies are discussed considering cultural diversity.

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BACKGROUND: Lack of physical activity is a concern for children across diverse backgrounds, particularly affecting those in rural areas who face distinct challenges compared to their urban counterparts. Community-derived interventions are needed that consider the unique context and additional physical activity barriers in under-resourced rural settings. Therefore, a prospective pre-post pilot/feasibility study of Hoosier Sport was conducted over 8-weeks with 6th and 7th grade children in a low-socioeconomic rural middle school setting. The primary objective of the present study was to assess trial- and intervention-related feasibility indicators; and the secondary objective was to collect preliminary assessment data for physical activity levels, fitness, psychological needs satisfaction, and knowledge of physical activity and nutrition among participating youth. METHODS: This prospective 8-week pilot/feasibility study took place in the rural Midwestern United States where twenty-four middle school students participated in a mixed-methods pre-post intervention during physical education classes. The intervention included elements like sport-based youth development, individualized goal setting, physical activity monitoring, pedometer usage, and health education. Data were collected at baseline (T1) and post-intervention (T3), with intermediate measures during the intervention (T2). Qualitative data were integrated through semi-structured interviews. Analytical methods encompassed descriptive statistics, correlations, repeated measures ANOVA, and thematic analysis. RESULTS: Key findings indicate robust feasibility, with intervention-related scores (FIM, AIM, and IAM) consistently surpassing the "good" threshold and 100% retention and recruitment success. Additionally, participants showed significant physical performance improvement, shifting from the 25th to the 50th percentile in the 6-minute walk test (p < 0.05). Autonomy and competence remained high, reflecting positive perceptions of program practicality. Nutrition knowledge, initially low, significantly improved at post-intervention (p < 0.01), highlighting the efficacy of targeted nutritional education in Hoosier Sport. CONCLUSIONS: This study pioneers a community-engaged model for physical activity intervention in under-resourced rural settings. Positive participant feedback, coupled with improvements in physical fitness and psychosocial factors, highlights the potential of the co-design approach. The findings offer valuable insights and a practical template for future community-based research, signaling the promising impact of such interventions on holistic well-being. This research lays the foundation for subsequent phases of the ORBIT model, emphasizing collaborative, community-driven approaches to address the complex issue of declining physical activity levels among adolescents.

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Positive youth development (PYD) frameworks suggest that a critical response to investigating the challenges young Black men living in resource poor communities experience involves identifying contextual resources in young men's lives and personal assets that promote success. The following study examines heterogeneity in proactive coping assets trajectories, parental practices as predictors of developmental trajectories, and associated outcomes of each trajectory. The study sample consisted of Black emerging adult men living in rural Georgia (N = 504). At baseline, men were between the ages of 19 and 22 (Mage = 20.29; SD = 1.10). At wave four, the participants' mean age was 27.67 (SD = 1.39). Results of growth mixture modeling from waves 1 to 3 discerned three developmental trajectory classes of emerging adults' proactive coping assets: a high and increasing class (n = 247, 49%), a low and stable class (n = 212, 42%), and a moderate and decreasing class (n = 45, 9%). Trajectory classes were linked to baseline levels of parental support, coaching, and expectations. Analysis revealed that parental support and parental coaching predicted proactive coping asset trajectory class identification. Links were then investigated between emerging adults' proactive coping asset trajectory classes and wave four physical health, depression, and alcohol use. Results revealed significant associations between class identification, alcohol use, and physical health. Study findings provide evidence supporting the impact of parenting on emerging adult Black men, underscoring the need to expand resources that support parenting and emerging adult relationships.

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School belonging can facilitate positive youth development and educational outcomes. Given that LGBTQ+ youth face marginalization in schools, there is a need to identify school supports that could still promote their sense of school belonging. We considered Gender-Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) as LGBTQ+ affirming school clubs. Among 92 LGBTQ+ student members of GSAs in nine states who completed weekly diary surveys over an 8-week period (Mage = 15.83 years, SD = 1.29; 50% youth of color; 51% trans or non-binary), we considered whether a youth's GSA experiences from meeting to meeting predicted their relative levels of school belonging in days following these meetings. There was significant within-individual (37%) and between-individual (63%) variability in youth's sense of school belonging during this time. Youth reported relatively higher school belonging on days following GSA meetings where they perceived greater group support (p = .04) and took on more leadership (p = .01). Furthermore, youth who, on average, reported greater advisor responsiveness (p = .01) and leadership (p = .01) in GSA meetings over the 8-week period reported greater school belonging than others. Findings showcase the dynamic variability in LGBTQ+ youth's sense of school belonging from week to week and carry implications for how schools and GSAs can support LGBTQ+ youth and sustain their ties to school.

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The aim of this study was to examine athlete engagement and its relationships with indicators of the quality of the athlete's sport experience, exploring potential differences according to gender, age, and competitive level. Furthermore, this study validated the Athlete Engagement Questionnaire (AEQ) in young athletes and confirmed its factor structure. A total of 1188 athletes (43.90% girls) from Argentina participated in the study, with a mean age of 15.92 (SD = 2.50). The participants completed the AEQ along with other measures of athletes' quality of experience, such as motivation, enjoyment, and burnout. This study confirmed the multidimensional nature of engagement, showing positive associations with high-quality athlete experiences and revalidating the inverse relationship with burnout. Moreover, the study found differences in engagement dimensions (i.e., confidence, vigor, dedication, and enthusiasm) based on the interplay of gender, age, and competitive level. In general, male athletes, younger athletes, and those with a higher competitive level showed more engagement and interactions between these sociodemographic variables. The Argentinian version of AEQ exhibited optimal fit and reliability and good indexes of measurement invariance across gender, age, and competitive level. These findings validate the AEQ as a reliable tool for evaluating sport engagement among adolescents in Argentina. Engagement constitutes an indicator of an optimal experience linked to positive youth development through sports participation.

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This case study on the Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk (CYFAR) Professional Development and Technical Assistance (PDTA) Center highlights a government-funded entity's efforts to provide technical assistance to federal grantees of the CYFAR Sustainable Community Projects (SCP) grant program. The PDTA Center aligns with and supports components of an evidence-based system for innovation support. Through these components, the system provides targeted tools, training for CYFAR SCP grantees, dedicated technical assistance in the form of coaching, and quality improvement support through the evaluation of available program data.

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The relation between positive youth development and stress, anxiety and depression was studied considering the mediator role of psychological symptoms and life satisfaction. A total of 3109 students included in the "Psychological Health and Well-being" study of the School Observatory participated, including 1618 females and 1491 males aged between 11 and 18 years old (M = 14.45; SD = 1.88), belonging to different school groups in different regions of the country. Adolescents with higher stress, depression and anxiety levels reported lower levels of competence, confidence and connection, as well as more psychological symptoms and lower life satisfaction. The results also showed that adolescents with higher levels of competence, confidence and connection reported less psychological symptoms and more life satisfaction. Two separate mediation analyses were performed to analyse the role of mental distress and life satisfaction on the relationship between positive youth development indicators and stress, anxiety and depression. These analyses confirmed the predicted relationships and partial mediations between mental distress and life satisfaction. These results should be taken into account in public policies concerning young people's health and education that should involve both targeted and indicated prevention strategies, including school and community-based interventions, in order to be effective.

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PURPOSE: Youth experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness need tailored prevention programming to prevent unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. This study evaluated the efficacy of a small-group, future-oriented positive youth development (PYD) intervention to reduce sexual risk behaviors. METHOD: Youth aged 14-19 (n = 483) experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness were recruited at youth-serving agencies and in alternative schools. Each cohort enrolled was randomized either to a 10-session, 5-week group future-oriented intervention to support them in adopting health-promoting behaviors such as using contraception, including condom use (n = 244) or to a no-treatment condition where they received usual services/schooling (n = 239). We assessed at baseline and 3-month and 9-month follow-up (1) vaginal intercourse without consistent contraception use, (2) vaginal and anal intercourse without consistent condom use, and (3) sexual risk behaviors, including current (last 3 months) effective contraception use by females who did not report current use at baseline. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between treatment and control conditions for most outcomes. However, among females not currently using contraception at baseline, 34% in the treatment condition compared to 12.9% in the control condition reported using contraception in the 3 months before the 9-month survey, a statistically significant difference. DISCUSSION: This sexual risk reduction intervention, grounded in PYD theory and tailored to address the needs of marginalized groups of youth, demonstrated efficacy at increasing contraceptive uptake among females. The need for PYD interventions that can be delivered in a variety of nontraditional school and service settings are discussed.

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