Youth Assets and Agency: Perspectives of Youths

A cross-sectional mixed methods design was used to understand perception of youth about their assets and agency. The assessment was based on positive youth development (PYD). Data were collected from 1,954 youth in the community and 1,261 students in higher education institutions (HEIs). Self-rated assets and agency among youth were not optimal. On a 6-point scale, the average self-rating was 4.53 in the community sample and 4.38 in the HEIs. The lowest-rated domains of assets were academic achievement among youth in the community and impulsivity among students in HEIs. Asset levels generally increased with education level, but TVET attendees or graduates had higher level of assets compared to university attendees or graduates. Youth agency scores were 4.56 for youth in the community and 4.09 for youth in HEIs, with self-efficacy being the lowest-rated domain. Youth perception on their asset and their agency have a strong correlation r=0.68. Capacity building interventions for youth should target specific development outcomes at multiple levels.