Intentional Self Regulation and Positive Youth Development: Implications for Youth Development Programs

Authors

  • Lisa M. Chauveron Montclair State University
  • Miriam R. Linver Montclair State University
  • Jennifer Brown Urban Montclair State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2015.10

Abstract

Character education programs are mission-aligned with the positive youth development (PYD) perspective, which, in research with American youth suggests that intentional self-regulation (ISR) develops through mutually beneficial interactions between youth and their environment. Cross-cultural studies of Western youth suggest an adolescence-specific ISR process may exist. We begin to extend this work to assess the relationship between ISR and positive development in young Scottish adolescents (approximately 7th grade, N = 82; 50% male), a previously unexamined group. ISR was correlated with the Five Cs of PYD and OLS regression analyses demonstrated that ISR predicted two of the Five Cs: Character and Connection. We discuss implications for youth development programs of the findings that ISR and some indices of PYD were linked in a sample of Scottish youth. 

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Published

2016-05-17

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 3 (2015): The Promotion of Character through Youth Development Programs

Section

Feature Articles

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