Evaluation of a Positive Youth Development Program in Hong Kong: A Replication

Abstract

Objectives:In this study, we used the one-group pretest–posttest design to examine changes in students after joining a positive youth development program (Project PATHS) in Hong Kong, with 9,226 successfully matched junior high school students joining the Tier 1 and/or Tier 2 program(s).Method:Program participants completed the validated outcome measures on positive youth development, life satisfaction, and thriving before and after joining the program(s).Results:Students showed positive changes after joining the Tier 1 and/or Tier 2 program(s). The present findings replicated and converged with the findings of the previous two studies.Conclusion:The present study illustrates the role of positive youth development programs in promoting adolescent development and highlights the importance of replication in intervention research in positive youth development programs in youth services. The contributions and limitations of this series of studies are discussed.