Positive Youth Development and Life Satisfaction among Youths

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to examine the effects of the different aspects of positive youth development on life satisfaction among Malay youths. In addition, the study was undertaken to identify the differences in the different aspects of positive youth development and life satisfaction between male and female youths. In Malaysia, the link between positive youth development and life satisfaction has been inadequately explored. This study adopted a cross-sectional research design involving a total of 246 male and 226 female youths. The respondents were selected using a two-step sampling technique that started with an area sampling and followed by a systematic sampling. The data was collected using self-administered questionnaires comprising items to measure the two major constructs in the study, positive youth development and life satisfaction. Structural Equation Modelling was used to test the proposed model’s goodness of fit and hypotheses. An independent t-test was performed to identify differences in life satisfaction between the male and female groups. The findings of the study revealed that different aspects of positive youth behaviour had different influence on youths’ life satisfaction. The study also indicated that female youths had higher pro-social norm and life satisfaction compared to their male counterpart.