The comparative study of Life Assets among Thailand secondary and high school students for 2009 and 2013;Finding from the Nation Positive youth development survey
The purpose of this study to compare positive youth development power in Thailand early and mid adolescent which is called Life Assets. Life Assets is an originating factor, which involves life skills and mindfulness of children and youth in their selves and their surroundings that have influenced to their living (family, wisdom, community and peers ).
METHODS:
Data from the National Positive Youth Development survey in 2009 and 2013 were used to asses trends of Positive power ( Power of Self, Family, Wisdom, Community and Peers) among Thailand secondary and high school students. The study were randomly selected 12,200 and 15,980 subjects of 14- 18 years old in 2009 and 2013 respectively from every parts of the country: Bangkok and Vicinity, Central Thailand, Northern Thailand, Northeastern Thailand and Southern Thailand . The participants were scored and Graded to calculate positive power by the Life’s Assets Questionnaire (alpha coefficient =0.797). Grading was categorized from A= excellent ( >80%), B=Good (70-80%), C=Fair( 60-70%) and F=Poor( <60%).
RESULTS:
The Positive power of the students was 68.90% (Grade C; Fair) and 70.94 % (Grade B; Good) in 2009 and 2013 respectively. There were five weakest indicators ; Media literacy in school, Volunteer activity, Meaningful participation in community, Commitment to learn and Self confident, which were failed in 2009 while there were not any indicators failed in 2013 and all these five indicators were scored increasing from Grade F in 2009 to Grade C in 2013.Moreover there were 17 indicators in “Good” result (Grade B) in 2009 while in 2013 were 27 indicators.
CONCLUSIONS:
The trend of Life Assets is to determine the direction in order to be a systematic formulating strategies and creative activities in different contexts, both site-based and issue-based accordingly for enhancing youth development and strengthen positive power.