The power of developmental assets

Developmental assets have the power to help youth make healthy decisions to achieve success.

The power of assets to promote positive attitudes and behaviours*

Having more Developmental Assets increases the chances that young people will have positive attitudes and behaviours. Search Institute research has found that young people with more assets are more likely to participate in eight positive behaviours. Here are some examples:

Table 1. Percentage of youth reporting positive behaviours by asset level

Positive Behaviour	Number of Assets
	0-10	11-20	21-30	31-40
Succeeds in School	8	20	38	58
Values Diversity	31	52	69	84
Maintains Good Health	29	51	73	91
Exhibits Leadership	45	63	77	86

*Based on data from the Search Institute Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviours survey; gathered in 2010 from almost 90,000 students in grades 6 to 12 (ages approximately 11 to 18) from 111 communities in 26 U.S. states.

The power of assets to protect*

Assets can help protect young people from making many harmful and unhealthy choices. Youth with more assets are less likely than youth with fewer assets to engage in 24 risky behaviours, such as tobacco use, gambling, violence, and shoplifting. This chart shows this relationship:

Table 2. Percentage of youth reporting risk-taking behaviours by asset level

Risky Behaviour	Number of Assets
	0-10	11-20	21-30	31-40
Problem Alcohol Use	44	23	9	2
Illicit Drug Use	41	19	6	1
Sexual Activity	34	21	11	3
Violence	60	34	14	4

*Based on data from the Search Institute Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviours survey; gathered in 2010 from almost 90,000 students in grades 6 to 12 (ages approximately 11 to 18) from 111 communities in 26 U.S. states.

Developmental Assets® are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people. From Pass It On! Ready-to-Use Handouts for Asset Builders, Second Edition. Copyright © 2006 by Search Institute®; 612.376.8955; 800.888.7828; www.search-institute.org. Adapted with permission from Search Institute®. Copyright © 2008 Search Institute, Minneapolis, MN; 800.888.7828; www.searchinstitute.org. All rights reserved.

To learn more about the developmental assets, visit building blocks of healthy development or, contact the School Health Promotion Team.

---

This item was last modified on July 14, 2015