The theory of positive youth development – Polish adaptation of the PYD-SF and PYD-VSF questionnaires

Abstract

The article presents the theory of positive youth development, its main assumptions and practical implications for work with youth. At the same time, the publication is a report on the adaptation of the PYD-SF-PL questionnaires and the shortened version of PYD-VSF-PL, used to measure the five main indicators of adaptation to adulthood (5 Cs). The study involved 573 people aged 14 to 25 (x = 18.5; Sd = 2.7). The questionnaires in the Polish version are characterized by good psychometric properties: they are reliable (alpha of the full version = 0.905; alpha of the shortened version = 0.843) and accurate, correlations with the level of perceived social support, the level of life satisfaction and mental resilience were observed.

The family as a key context for positive youth development. Legal, organizational, and psychological opportunities for integrating the family into the network of support and development of adolescents

“…The theory of positive youth development arises from the need to support the development of teenagers growing up in difficult care and educational conditions and at risk of social maladjustment. In contrast to traditional concepts, it places emphasis not so much on reducing deficits, but on strengthening the positive sides of teenagers: their potential and key development areas for adaptation to adulthood (Barłóg, 2023;Benson et al 2006). The concepts of positive youth development are complemented by the theory of psychological resilience, which tries to explain the phenomenon of good functioning in adulthood despite unfavorable educational conditions at earlier stages of development (Barłóg, 2023;Ogińska-Bulik, Juczyński, 2011;Kaczmarek, 2011;Ostaszewski, 2014).…”

“…In contrast to traditional concepts, it places emphasis not so much on reducing deficits, but on strengthening the positive sides of teenagers: their potential and key development areas for adaptation to adulthood (Barłóg, 2023;Benson et al 2006). The concepts of positive youth development are complemented by the theory of psychological resilience, which tries to explain the phenomenon of good functioning in adulthood despite unfavorable educational conditions at earlier stages of development (Barłóg, 2023;Ogińska-Bulik, Juczyński, 2011;Kaczmarek, 2011;Ostaszewski, 2014). The theory of positive youth development identifies five key indicators, the development of which promotes proper adaptation to adulthood and seems to be highly related to the phenomenon of psychological resilience.…”

“…The theory of positive youth development identifies five key indicators, the development of which promotes proper adaptation to adulthood and seems to be highly related to the phenomenon of psychological resilience. The indicators described are (Barłóg, 2023;Bowers, Kiely, Brittian, Lerner, Lerner, 2010;Lerner et al 2005;Phelps, Zimmerman, Waren, Jelicic, von Eye, Lerner, 2009;Ostaszewski, 2014): competence; confidence; connection; character; caring. The theory of positive youth development indicates that strengthening the above competence areas is also a way to reduce deficits (Benson et al 2006).…”

“…a sports team), a child learns social competences, what should be done among coaches and peers, and what behavior is unacceptable. Building correct social attitudes can therefore take place in a positive atmosphere in which the child wants to participate, and not by focusing on deficits, orders and prohibitions (Barłóg, 2023).…”

“…The family is therefore one of the key contexts for the positive development of young people, where relationships with the immediate environment, positive attitudes towards oneself and attitudes towards other people should be modeled. Through a properly functioning family system, in which there is appropriately balanced cohesion (balance between own needs and those of individual household members) and flexibility (ability to respond to various challenges), a child can acquire life competences and morally solve the dilemmas facing him (Barłóg, 2023;Olson, Gorall, 2003;Margasiński, 2009). The family is therefore one of the key contexts for the development of all five indicators of adaptation to adulthood (five CS - Barłóg, 2023;Lerner et al, 2005;Ostaszewski, 2014).…”