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Character Strengths and Positive Youth Development

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  • Nansook Park

Abstract

The goal of positive youth development is to build and strengthen assets that enable youth to grow and flourish throughout life. In this article, the definition, origins, and assessment of character strengths and ways of fostering them are discussed. Character strengths are here defined as a family of positive traits reflected in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Character strengths are important in their own right, but they additionally promote well-being and buffer against psychological disorders among youth. Good parenting, close relationships with peer and family, positive role models, positive institutions, and various youth development programs play important roles in the development of character strengths. Character strengths exist in degrees, and they can be measured as individual differences. Future studies should approach character strengths as multidimensional constructs to understand better the structure and development of character, and how it contributes to positive youth development.

Suggested Citation

  • Nansook Park, 2004. "Character Strengths and Positive Youth Development," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 591(1), pages 40-54, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:591:y:2004:i:1:p:40-54
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716203260079
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jane Gillham & Karen Reivich, 2004. "Cultivating Optimism in Childhood and Adolescence," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 591(1), pages 146-163, January.
    2. Roger P. Weissberg & Mary Utne O’Brien, 2004. "What Works in School-Based Social and Emotional Learning Programs for Positive Youth Development," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 591(1), pages 86-97, January.
    3. Nansook Park, 2004. "The Role of Subjective Well-Being in Positive Youth Development," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 591(1), pages 25-39, January.
    4. Marvin W. Berkowitz & Melinda C. Bier, 2004. "Research-Based Character Education," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 591(1), pages 72-85, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dimitra Vasileiou & Despina Moraitou & Vasileios Papaliagkas & Christos Pezirkianidis & Anastasios Stalikas & Georgia Papantoniou & Maria Sofologi, 2021. "The Relationships between Character Strengths and Subjective Wellbeing: Evidence from Greece under Lockdown during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-28, October.
    2. Sahar Amoury Naddaf & Shiri Lavy, 2023. "Character Strengths’ Change During COVID-19," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 185-210, January.
    3. Christopher Peterson, 2004. "Positive Social Science," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 591(1), pages 186-201, January.
    4. Christopher Peterson, 2004. "Preface," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 591(1), pages 6-12, January.
    5. Sen-Chi Yu & Chun-Wei Chang, 2022. "The Effect of Positive Intervention Dosing Frequency: Fixed Intervals May Decrease More Depression than Flexible Ones," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-10, July.
    6. Delia Ștefenel & Jose-Michael Gonzalez & Silviu Rogobete & Raluca Sassu, 2022. "Coping Strategies and Life Satisfaction among Romanian Emerging Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-12, February.

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