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Resource

Adolescent Thriving: The Role of Sparks, Relationships, and Empowerment

December 18, 2015

Although most social science research on adolescence emphasizes risks and challenges, an emergent field of study focuses on adolescent thriving. This study extends this line of inquiry by examining the power of identifying and nurturing young people’s passions or interests (“sparks”), empowering them to make civic contributions (giving them “voice”), and providing the relationships and opportunities that reinforce and nourish thriving. 

In this report, a national sample of adolescents completed a survey that investigated their sparks, the opportunities and relationships they have to support pursuing those sparks, and their “voice”. The results indicate that linking one’s spark with a sense of voice and supportive opportunities and relationships strengthens concurrent outcomes in young people during the key developmental period of adolescence. The results demonstrate the value of focusing on thriving in adolescence, both to reframe our understanding of this age group and to highlight the urgency of providing adolescents the opportunities and relationships they need to thrive. 

 

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About the Author

Search Institute

For more than 50 years, Search Institute® has been a leader and partner for organizations around the world in discovering what kids need to succeed. Our research, resources, and expertise help our partners in organizations, schools, and community coalitions solve critical challenges in the lives of young people.

We focus on deepening understanding and working with partners to improve the lives of young people in three critical areas:

  • Developmental Assets®, Search Institute’s framework of strengths and supports, which has become the most widely recognized and most frequently cited approach to positive youth development in the world.
  • Developmental Relationships, those relationships that help young people attain the psychological and social skills needed for success in education and in life.
  • Developmental Communities, a focus on creating contexts and settings that attend to young people’s developmental needs and are aligned for collective impact.
Thriving
The 5 Promises

The 5 Promises represent conditions children need to achieve adult success. The collective work of the Alliance involves keeping these promises to America’s youth. This article relates to the promises highlighted below:

Caring Adults Caring Adults Safe Places Safe Places A Healthy Start A Healthy Start Effective Education Effective Education Opportunities to Help Others Opportunities to Help Others

Other Resources

February 22, 2018
When Youth Feel Unsafe: Brief Insights on the Cognitive and Academic Effects of Exposure to Violence
September 01, 2017
Healthy Schools Research
April 17, 2017
OUR WORK: A Framework for Accelerating Progress for Children and Youth in America
March 01, 2017
Turning Points: How Young People in Four Career Pathways Programs Describe the Relationships that Shape Their Lives
March 01, 2017
Defining Webs of Support: A New Framework to Advance Understanding of Relationships and Youth Development
December 15, 2016
Relationships Come First: How Four Career Development and Workforce Readiness Programs Prepare Young People for Work and Life
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