Abstract
Little is known about positive development across the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. The purpose of this
paper was to use longitudinal data from a large community sample, the Australian Temperament Project, to investigate prospective
associations between positive development at age 19–20 years and changes in social, health, and behavioral outcomes at 23–24 years.
Data from 890 young adults (61.7% women) were analyzed using path analysis. Emotional health, physical well-being, friendship
quality, reduced antisocial behavior, and positive development in young adulthood were predicted by higher levels of positive
development in late adolescence, after controlling for baseline levels of respective outcomes, gender, and family socioeconomic
status. Parent relationship quality and alcohol use were not significantly predicted. Based on these findings, interventions
promoting positive development during adolescence should be investigated as a potential means of yielding positive social,
health, and behavioral consequences well into young adulthood.
paper was to use longitudinal data from a large community sample, the Australian Temperament Project, to investigate prospective
associations between positive development at age 19–20 years and changes in social, health, and behavioral outcomes at 23–24 years.
Data from 890 young adults (61.7% women) were analyzed using path analysis. Emotional health, physical well-being, friendship
quality, reduced antisocial behavior, and positive development in young adulthood were predicted by higher levels of positive
development in late adolescence, after controlling for baseline levels of respective outcomes, gender, and family socioeconomic
status. Parent relationship quality and alcohol use were not significantly predicted. Based on these findings, interventions
promoting positive development during adolescence should be investigated as a potential means of yielding positive social,
health, and behavioral consequences well into young adulthood.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10804-011-9137-8
- Authors
- Mary T. Hawkins, Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children’s Hospital, University of Melbourne, Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Kristi-Ann Villagonzalo, Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children’s Hospital, University of Melbourne, Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Ann V. Sanson, Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children’s Hospital, University of Melbourne, Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- John W. Toumbourou, Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children’s Hospital, University of Melbourne, Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Primrose Letcher, Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children’s Hospital, University of Melbourne, Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Craig A. Olsson, Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children’s Hospital, University of Melbourne, Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Journal Journal of Adult Development
- Online ISSN 1573-3440
- Print ISSN 1068-0667