The Power of Assets
Research Findings
On one level, the 40 Developmental Assets represent data gathered in 2003 from common wisdom about the kinds of positive experiences and characteristics that young people need and deserve. But their value extends further. Surveys of almost 150,000 students in grades 6–12 reveal that assets are powerful influences on adolescent behavior. Regardless of gender, ethnic heritage, economic situation, or geographic location, assets both promote positive behaviors and attitudes and help protect young people from many different problem behaviors.
To illustrate, these graphs show that young people with more assets are less likely to engage in patterns of high-risk behavior and more likely to report having positive attitudes and behaviors.
