Stability and Change in Positive Development During Young Adulthood

• NCJ Number: 237380
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 40 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2011 Pages: 1436-1452
• Author(s): Mary T. Hawkins; Primrose Letcher; Ann Sanson; Meredith O'Conner; John W. Toumbourou; Craig Olsson
• Date Published: November 2011
• Length: 17 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Australian Research Council
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article examines the structure and stability of positive development at two time points during young adulthood.

Abstract

Calls have been made for a greater focus on successful development and how positive functioning can be conceptualized in theory and empirical research. Drawing on a large Australian community sample (N = 890; 61.7 percent female), this article examines the structure and stability of positive development at two time points during young adulthood. Previously, the authors developed and empirically tested a model of positive development at 19-20 years comprised of five first-order constructs (civic action and engagement, trust and tolerance of others, trust in authorities and organizations, social competence, and life satisfaction) and a second-order positive development construct. In the current study, the authors replicated this model at 23-24 years and found that it was again a good fit for the data, and was equally applicable for young men and women. Hence, positive development can be conceptualized according to five important dimensions at both ages. While variable-oriented tests suggested continuity in levels of positive development, person-oriented analyses revealed four distinct patterns of positive development over timetwo reflecting stability (stable high [34.5 percent] and stable very low [11.6 percent]) and two characterized by change (low/average increasing [30.4 percent] and average decreasing [23.5 percent]). There were significant differences in the gender composition of these groups, with young women overrepresented in the more favorable groups. Thus, despite mean level stability, positive development is characterized by change for many young people, suggesting the importance of identifying factors that support young people's capacity for positive functioning over this transitional period. The current findings contribute to our understanding of the nature and course of positive development over this important period. (Published Abstract)