University of Rochester.
University of California, Los Angeles.
Child Dev. 2019 Jul;90(4):e505-e524. doi: 10.1111/cdev.13035. Epub 2018 Jan 19.
Character strengths are an integral component of positive youth development that can promote flourishing. Developmental principles posit constructs become increasingly complex with age, yet this process has not been examined with character. Using a socioeconomically and ethnically diverse sample of 2,467 youth ages 9-19, bifactor models were estimated across elementary, middle, and high school-age groups to examine age differences in character structure and function. With successive age, a greater number of specific character strength factors were identified, suggesting character structure becomes more differentiated across adolescence. Results linking character bifactor models to indicators of positive functioning also supported differentiation in character function across ages. Findings point to the need for theoretical and empirical considerations of character structure and function across development.
性格优势是积极的青年发展的一个组成部分，它可以促进繁荣。发展原则假设结构随着年龄的增长而变得越来越复杂，但这个过程还没有在性格方面进行研究。本研究使用了一个具有社会经济和种族多样性的 2467 名 9-19 岁青少年的样本，在小学、初中和高中年龄段估计了双因素模型，以检验性格结构和功能的年龄差异。随着年龄的增长，确定了更多特定的性格优势因素，这表明性格结构在青春期变得更加多样化。将性格双因素模型与积极功能的指标联系起来的结果也支持了性格功能在不同年龄的分化。研究结果表明，需要从理论和实证两方面考虑性格结构和功能在整个发展过程中的变化。
