Youth strengths arise from the ashes of adversity

Abstract

With problem-oriented approaches to practice, policy and research, youth considered to be 'at-risk' are not often viewed from a strengths-based perspective. Explorations of youths' strengths are critical to help create environments where youth can flourish. The purpose of this research was to explore the resilience, healthy capabilities and strengths of youth at risk; from youth and staff perspectives across three community-based organizations in Western Canada. Through 17 interviews analyzed using hermeneutics, and further interpretation using metaphor development, stories arose of a journey progressing from loss and despair to fostering hope. The importance of youth having a voice and being included in decision-making was both a strength and a way of building strengths in youth. Multiple-level recommendations to help mediate the challenges and systems failures identified in these youths' journeys were identified; with an end goal of creating healthier futures for youth and a society in which they feel they belong.

Longitudinal Patterns of Strengths Among Youth with Psychiatric Disorders: A Latent Profile Transition Analysis

“…Latent classes' transitions and their positive associations with the reduced number of actionable items were consistent with the study findings of youth strengths. Building strengths, a strength-based approach supports youth's personal recovery independent of improving youth mental health needs [24,42,43]. Results indicated that transitioning to a better group was associated with a lower number of actionable items at the end of an episode of treatment.…”

Reaching hard-to-reach people through digital means – Citizens as initiators of co-creation in public services

“…The problem has been that youths' experiences have been evaluated against norms and practices set by adults (Iwasaki, 2016). Recently, the focus has shifted more toward strengths and assets (Lind et al , 2019). Positive youth development (PYD) theory and practice draw on positive psychology and emphasize youths' strengths, resources and opportunities (Larson, 2000).…”

“…Marginalized youths' strengths manifest themselves in many ways, such as trust and a positive attitude to opportunities (Ponciano, 2013) and also creativity, stubbornness and the acceptance of others (Nott and Vuchinich, 2016), loyalty, empathy, altruism and a willingness to influence (Lind et al , 2019) and a strong sense of purpose and willingness to overcome challenging situations (Sumner et al , 2018). Resilience is embedded in the PYD approach and understood not only as a personal capacity to overcome the negative effects of a harmful situation or experience but also as the capacity of a person's social circle to provide opportunities to young people who have been mistreated (Sanders et al , 2015).…”

Understanding youth circumstances in workforce development programs: Opportunities for social work

“…Concepts such as resiliency from psychology are also relevant. Lind et al (2019) using interpretive methods identified many strengths compiled from an analysis of interviews with youth resulting in an overarching metaphor “youth strengths arise from the ashes of adversity.” Some of the strongest themes within the interviews included the following: resilience, loyalty, altruistic, artistic, wanting to be included in decision making, perseverance, empathy, and creative. Spindle-Jackson and Collins (2021) argue that positive youth development approaches are particularly germane to workforce practice.…”