Stability and transitions in positive youth development profiles among adolescents: The role of interpersonal relationships.

Abstract

Adolescence is a period of significant developmental plasticity, offering opportunities to foster positive strengths. Research has suggested that positive youth development (PYD) varies across individuals and cultures; however, there is still limited understanding of how PYD evolves over time, particularly in non-Western cultural contexts. To address this gap, the current study employed latent profile analysis and latent transition analysis to identify distinct PYD profiles, examine transitions between profiles, and investigate the predictive roles of interpersonal relationships. A total of 1680 Chinese adolescents (45.9% male, Mage = 15.42 years) participated in assessments at three time points with 6-month intervals. The results identified three profiles: asset-poor, moderate, and prosperous. The asset-poor subgroup exhibited the highest probabilities of transition, whereas the prosperous subgroup exhibited the greatest stability. Both the asset-poor and moderate subgroups showed a tendency to transition toward more adaptive profiles. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that parent-child relationships and school interpersonal relationships exerted different effects on transitions in PYD profiles. These findings highlight the value of developing tailored interventions that strengthen adolescents' inherent strengths in line with their specific patterns, thereby supporting all adolescents in achieving optimal development.