WED-094 - Trends over Time in 40 Developmental Assets of Rural Youth: 2012-2024

Brief Abstract Summary: Observe the changes in 40 Developmental Assets over time (2012-2024) as snapshots of grade 7 students at a small, rural, middle school. A substance use prevention and positive youth development coalition tracked middle school student perceptions of developmental asset experience using an assets survey to focus local prevention interventions. Comparison among all five assessment years showed a statistically significant, positive change in total mean asset scores between 2012-2024. The areas with consistent high scores centered around the home/family, substance use, and intrapersonal beliefs. The assets in need of additional monitoring that should serve as a focus for intervention included behavioral-based assets and inclusion of neighbors. Schools and community coalitions can explore contributing factors to low-scoring assets to effectively plan, implement, and evaluate effective interventions.

Detailed abstract description: Observe the changes in 40 Developmental Assets over time (2012-2024) as snapshots of grade 7 students at a small, rural, middle school. The 40 Developmental Assets Framework is based on research into the positive qualities and experiences that help young people succeed in life and avoid health risk behaviors. The more assets a youth has, the greater the chance they will not engage in health risk behaviors such as alcohol use, illegal drug use, violence, and sexual activity. Nationally, the most common assets youth report experiencing are in the areas of personal honesty and achievement, supportive families, optimistic view of the future, and positive friend influence. On the other hand, youth experience healthy family communication and school involvement, adult mentors, and youth as a valued community resource the least. Most youth generally obtain assets from the family setting as opposed to the community setting. A countywide, school/community-based substance use prevention and positive youth development coalition tracked middle school student perceptions of developmental asset experience over several years to focus local prevention interventions. A 5-point Likert-type (SA-SD) Assets Survey was used, and statistical analyses consisted of frequencies and percentages, used to analyze survey items, as well as a one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to assess difference in total asset scores between the five assessment years. Comparison of assets among all five assessment years shows several areas of strength. The results of the ANOVA revealed a statistically significant, positive change in the total mean asset scores between 2012 and 2024. The areas with comparatively consistent high scores centered around the home/family, substance use, intrapersonal beliefs, and knowing and feeling comfortable around people of different backgrounds. The assets in need of additional monitoring or those that should serve as areas in need of intervention included behavioral-based assets and inclusion of neighbors. It is important to continue monitoring the attainment of assets. The five assessment years of data presented here adequately serves as a needs assessment for schools and community coalitions to explore contributing factors to low-scoring assets to most effectively plan, implement, and evaluate effective interventions.