Stability and Change in Positive Development During Young Adulthood |
| |
Authors: | Mary T Hawkins Primrose Letcher Ann Sanson Meredith O’Connor John W Toumbourou Craig Olsson |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children’s Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia;(2) School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia;(3) Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia;(4) Psychological Sciences & Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia |
| |
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% female), this article examines the structure and stability of positive development at two time points during
young adulthood. Previously, we 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 organisations,
social competence, and life satisfaction) and a second-order positive development construct. In the current study, we 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 time—two reflecting stability (stable high 34.5%] and stable very low 11.6%]) and two characterized
by change (low/average increasing 30.4%] and average decreasing 23.5%]). There were significant differences in the gender
composition of these groups, with young women overrepresented in the more favourable 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. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|