摘要：Objectives. We investigated prospective associations among assets (e.g., family communication), which research has shown to protect youths from risk behavior, and successful transition to early adulthood (STEA). Methods. We included participants (n = 651) aged 18 years and older at study wave 5 (2007–2008) of the Youth Asset Study, in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, metro area, in the analyses. We categorized 14 assets into individual-, family-, or community-level groups. We included asset groups assessed at wave 1 (2003–2004) in linear regression analyses to predict STEA 4 years later at wave 5. Results. Individual- and community-level assets significantly ( P < .05) predicted STEA 4 years later and the associations were generally linear, indicating that the more assets participants possessed the better the STEA outcome. There was a gender interaction for family-level assets suggesting that family-level assets were significant predictors of STEA for males but not for females. Conclusions. Public health programming should focus on community- and family-level youth assets as well as individual-level youth assets to promote positive health outcomes in early adulthood. Youth development programming addresses youth risk reduction through strategies to strengthen “youth assets,” which represent skills, competencies, relationships, and opportunities that help youths to overcome challenges and successfully transition through developmental stages into adulthood. 1–3 Considerable research supports the belief that programs focusing on building and strengthening youth assets (e.g., positive peer role models, family communication, school connectedness) help protect youths from engaging in risk behaviors such as tobacco, alcohol, and drug use; violence; and early initiation of sexual intercourse. 4–10 The majority of youth-development research has focused on the avoidance of risk behaviors as the outcomes of interest. A much smaller body of research has found that youth assets are also associated with positive outcomes such as school achievement, exercise, seat belt use, and bicycle helmet use. 11,12 More importantly, it is believed that assets not only protect youths from engaging in risk behaviors and promote positive health behaviors and outcomes, but also increase the odds that a person will mature into a healthy, functional adult. 13,14 Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to examine prospective associations between youth assets and successful transition to early adulthood (STEA). Early or emerging adulthood (18–25 years of age) has been described as a relatively new and distinct period of the life course made possible by industrialization, cultural changes such as delays in marriage and parenting from the early to the late 20s, and the often lengthy pursuit of undergraduate and graduate college degrees. 15 Emerging adulthood generally represents a time when individuals are entering their physical, cognitive, and behavioral prime. It is also a volitional period of time between adolescence and full adulthood during which young people explore various social roles and pathways to adulthood. 15 In light of this perspective, it would be useful to identify factors associated with successful transition into this period of life. A review by Eccles et al. 16 concluded that there is evidence that youth assets are associated with early adult outcomes although the definition of assets as well as the markers of success for the emerging adulthood outcomes were widely defined. The research is largely based on resiliency studies in which the focus is on youths who are at risk for negative health outcomes because of significant childhood adversity. For example, one of the first studies focusing on STEA was conducted by Werner et al. who followed a cohort from birth to adulthood. 17,18 They found that indicators of resiliency (e.g., better reasoning, achievement-oriented attitude, close bond with caregiver, having several close friends) were related to overall success in life and satisfaction with work, family, and social life, and psychological well-being of adults in their mid-30s. The results of another resiliency study indicated that planfulness, emotional autonomy, and nonparent adult support were factors associated with competent functioning in emerging adulthood. 10 Burt and Paysnick 19 summarized resiliency research noting that past peer and current young adult relationships as well as personal factors such as cognitive ability and self-control predict STEA. Youth assets have been grouped into domains such as physical, intellectual, psychological, and social. 14 Another approach to organizing and understanding asset and health outcome research is through the socioecological model, which suggests that health behaviors and outcomes are influenced by multiple levels or pathways of change that range from individual to policy factors. 20 For example, it is possible that youths who avoid risk behaviors and eventually make a successful transition to early adulthood may greatly benefit not only from individual assets such as responsible decision-making but also from family assets, such as warm and caring relationships with parents, as well as community assets, such as a strong association with school. In summary, there is a need for further investigation in the youth development field that does not fall under the rubric of resiliency or risk behavior–prevention research. In particular, research that attempts to identify specific assets that may be associated with specific aspects of STEA is warranted. 16 We examined prospective associations between specific youth assets and a multidimensional STEA outcome in a randomly selected cohort of racially/ethnically diverse youths who were not assumed to be at risk attributable to significant childhood adversity.
