Developmental Assets and Ethnic Identity as Predictors of Thriving in Hispanic Adolescents

This study examined the confluence of developmental assets, ethnic identity, and acculturative stress in the prediction of thriving among Hispanic adolescents. Thriving is used to encompass youth who are not only doing well now but who are also on the trajectory toward overall success. Study participants included 130 self-reported Hispanic middle and high school students participating in a leadership program specifically geared toward atrisk students. The results indicated that ethnic identity and developmental assets positively predict adolescent thriving. As expected, the correlations between developmental assets scores (context and category) and composite thriving were all significant and positive. Specifically, internal assets and ethnic identity were the main predictors of thriving according to regression analysis. Implications for professionals working with Hispanic youth are discussed.