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The theoretical approach of Positive Youth Development Assets focuses on developmental assets that play a crucial role in the understanding of the whole person. According to the ecological approach of PYD, factors such as family support school climate, neighborhoods, communities, and the dispositions of adolescents to be more responsible, develop a sense of purpose, altruism, and commitment to education, are considered critical factors that help create a positive climate for adolescents to grow and flourish. This study aims to understand the role of the PYD framework in external and internal assets. This framework holistically saw adolescents, focusing on external and internal assets. External assets like Support, Empowerment, Boundaries, Expectations and Constructive Use of Time help adolescents create a climate that helps them feel supported and have a positive experience with people and other institutions. Internal assets are related to Commitment to learning, Positive values, Positive identity, and Social competencies. According to the current theoretical perspectives, the PYD model seems to be a valid method to explore factors that affect the positive development of adolescents and an excellent approach to building intervention programs for them.

This research aimed to design a structural model for relationships between developmental assets with thriving and wisdom. For this aim, based on multistage-cluster sampling method, a sample of 668 students from Kermanshah universities was selected, and Wisdom Scale (3D-WS), Thriving Scale and Developmental Assets Profile (DAP) were completed by them. The data analyzed by using the path analysis method. The final model presented a particular pattern of relationship between the research variables, and could explain 0/23 of the variance of wisdom. The fitness indicators of the model showed the proper fit with the data (χ2/df=2.57, RMSEA=0/05, GFI=1/00, CFI=1/00,). Direct effects of internal assets on three dimensions of wisdom were confirmed, its indirect effects through thriving on cognitive and effective dimensions were significant but on the reflective dimension was not significant. Also, direct effect of external assets on reflective dimension was confirmed, but on the cognitive and effective dimensions didn''t confirm, and its indirect effects on cognitive and effective dimensions were significant but on reflective dimension was non-significant. Totally, internal assets more than external assets explained wisdom in the students.

Youth who experience homelessness have worse health and well-being than housed youth. Internal assets, including social competency and positive self-identity, are factors that promote healthy development. This study compared internal assets between homeless and housed youth, and examined whether connectedness with parents moderates the association between homelessness and internal assets. Using data from a large population-based survey of middle- and high-school aged youth, we found that homelessness was associated with lower levels of internal assets. However, having high connectedness with a parent significantly predicted the strength of these assets, suggesting opportunities to promote health equity among homeless youth.