Adolescent developmental assets and longitudinal weight status and psychosocial health outcomes: Exploratory analysis from a youth cohort study in Taiwan

Backgrounds: Asset-based youth development has been proposed to be associated with health behaviors and psychological well-being in adolescents. This study aims to extend the current knowledge regarding the effects of positive youth development on weight status and psychosocial health outcomes in yo...

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Main Authors: Meng-Che Tsai, Jennifer M.T. Ng, Yi-Fang Yu, Carol Strong, Yi-Ping Hsieh, Yi-Ching Lin, Chung-Ying Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-09-01
Series:Pediatrics and Neonatology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875957221000863
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author Meng-Che Tsai
Jennifer M.T. Ng
Yi-Fang Yu
Carol Strong
Yi-Ping Hsieh
Yi-Ching Lin
Chung-Ying Lin
author_facet Meng-Che Tsai
Jennifer M.T. Ng
Yi-Fang Yu
Carol Strong
Yi-Ping Hsieh
Yi-Ching Lin
Chung-Ying Lin
author_sort Meng-Che Tsai
collection DOAJ
description Backgrounds: Asset-based youth development has been proposed to be associated with health behaviors and psychological well-being in adolescents. This study aims to extend the current knowledge regarding the effects of positive youth development on weight status and psychosocial health outcomes in young adulthood using a large representative longitudinal sample. Methods: Data were retrieved from the Taiwan Youth Project that comprised a longitudinal cohort of adolescents (N = 2688) surveyed at grades 7, 8, 9, and 12, and at age 22. Principal component analysis was used to construct developmental asset scores based on 35 items selected from the relevant questions at wave 1. Outcomes were standardized scores of body mass index, self-rated healthiness and happiness, depressive symptomology and deviant behaviors in the subsequent waves. Generalized estimating equation analysis was applied to assess the impact of developmental assets on these repeatedly measured outcome variables. Results: As compared to those with the highest quintile level of developmental assets, individuals with the lowest quintile level were more likely to rate themselves unhealthy (β = 0.33 [95% confidence interval 0.26, 0.40]) and unhappy (β = 0.47 [0.41, 0.54]) and report more depressive symptomatology (β = 4.18 [3.35, 5.01]) and deviant behaviors (β = 0.63 [0.44, 0.81]). No association was found between body mass index and developmental asset scores. Conclusion: The results concluded a longitudinal association between adolescent developmental assets and psychological and behavioral health outcomes. Further research may be required to investigate whether positive youth development could be translated into long-term benefits in adult physical conditions, such as obesity.
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spelling doaj-art-e645089c2e4d490ba848848d970ef5612025-08-20T02:04:05ZengElsevierPediatrics and Neonatology1875-95722021-09-0162552252810.1016/j.pedneo.2021.05.006Adolescent developmental assets and longitudinal weight status and psychosocial health outcomes: Exploratory analysis from a youth cohort study in TaiwanMeng-Che Tsai0Jennifer M.T. Ng1Yi-Fang Yu2Carol Strong3Yi-Ping Hsieh4Yi-Ching Lin5Chung-Ying Lin6Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng-Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan, Taiwan, 704.Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong KongDepartment of Public Health, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, TaiwanDepartment of Public Health, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, TaiwanDepartment of Social Work, College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USADepartment of Early Childhood and Family Education, College of Education, National Taipei University of Education, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong; Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, TaiwanBackgrounds: Asset-based youth development has been proposed to be associated with health behaviors and psychological well-being in adolescents. This study aims to extend the current knowledge regarding the effects of positive youth development on weight status and psychosocial health outcomes in young adulthood using a large representative longitudinal sample. Methods: Data were retrieved from the Taiwan Youth Project that comprised a longitudinal cohort of adolescents (N = 2688) surveyed at grades 7, 8, 9, and 12, and at age 22. Principal component analysis was used to construct developmental asset scores based on 35 items selected from the relevant questions at wave 1. Outcomes were standardized scores of body mass index, self-rated healthiness and happiness, depressive symptomology and deviant behaviors in the subsequent waves. Generalized estimating equation analysis was applied to assess the impact of developmental assets on these repeatedly measured outcome variables. Results: As compared to those with the highest quintile level of developmental assets, individuals with the lowest quintile level were more likely to rate themselves unhealthy (β = 0.33 [95% confidence interval 0.26, 0.40]) and unhappy (β = 0.47 [0.41, 0.54]) and report more depressive symptomatology (β = 4.18 [3.35, 5.01]) and deviant behaviors (β = 0.63 [0.44, 0.81]). No association was found between body mass index and developmental asset scores. Conclusion: The results concluded a longitudinal association between adolescent developmental assets and psychological and behavioral health outcomes. Further research may be required to investigate whether positive youth development could be translated into long-term benefits in adult physical conditions, such as obesity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875957221000863Adolescent developmental assetsPsychosocial healthWeight status
spellingShingle Meng-Che Tsai
Jennifer M.T. Ng
Yi-Fang Yu
Carol Strong
Yi-Ping Hsieh
Yi-Ching Lin
Chung-Ying Lin
Adolescent developmental assets and longitudinal weight status and psychosocial health outcomes: Exploratory analysis from a youth cohort study in Taiwan
Pediatrics and Neonatology
Adolescent developmental assets
Psychosocial health
Weight status
title Adolescent developmental assets and longitudinal weight status and psychosocial health outcomes: Exploratory analysis from a youth cohort study in Taiwan
title_full Adolescent developmental assets and longitudinal weight status and psychosocial health outcomes: Exploratory analysis from a youth cohort study in Taiwan
title_fullStr Adolescent developmental assets and longitudinal weight status and psychosocial health outcomes: Exploratory analysis from a youth cohort study in Taiwan
title_full_unstemmed Adolescent developmental assets and longitudinal weight status and psychosocial health outcomes: Exploratory analysis from a youth cohort study in Taiwan
title_short Adolescent developmental assets and longitudinal weight status and psychosocial health outcomes: Exploratory analysis from a youth cohort study in Taiwan
title_sort adolescent developmental assets and longitudinal weight status and psychosocial health outcomes exploratory analysis from a youth cohort study in taiwan
topic Adolescent developmental assets
Psychosocial health
Weight status
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875957221000863
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