Towards a theory-based positive youth development programme

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Intervention Science

Background:

• Young adolescents face developmental challenges requiring targeted support.
• Existing models may not fully operationalize developmental facilitation.
• Positive Youth Development Intervention (PYDI) offers a framework for positive developmental trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and describe an intervention program for young adolescents based on the PYDI model.
• To operationalize PYDI concepts through literature analysis for practical application.
• To identify key skills and knowledge areas crucial for adolescent development.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of PYDI model concepts and processes.
• Integration of self-regulation as a central mechanism for developmental change.
• Identification of contextual factors: stress navigation and goal pursuit.

Main Results:

• The intervention focuses on self-regulation within stress navigation and goal pursuit.
• Key facilitated skills include identity development, goal formulation, decision-making, coping, affect/cognition regulation, and socialization.
• The program is theory-based, designed for implementation and empirical evaluation.

Conclusions:

• The developed intervention program provides a structured approach to adolescent development.
• Self-regulation is identified as the core process for positive developmental change.
• Hope, problem-solving efficacy, and social efficacy are potential indicators of developmental progress.