For more than 30 years, the Search Institute has researched what young people need to grow into healthy, successful, and caring adults.
Their work, based on studies involving millions of youth across the United States and around the world, led to the creation of the “40 Developmental Assets” framework—a widely recognized approach to positive youth development.
These developmental assets are the relationships, opportunities, values, and skills that help young people thrive. Research continues to show that the more developmental assets a young person has, the more likely they are to succeed in school, make healthy choices, and avoid risky behaviors.
What makes this research especially important is that developmental assets matter regardless of a child’s background, income level, or family structure. In many cases, the number of assets a young person has is a stronger predictor of success than demographic factors alone.
The framework identifies 40 positive supports and strengths that young people need to succeed. These assets are divided into two categories:
External Assets
These are the supports and opportunities young people receive from the people and environments around them. Examples include family support, positive adult relationships, clear boundaries and expectations, feeling safe, and having constructive ways to spend time.
Internal Assets
These are the personal qualities and strengths developed within a young person. They include motivation to learn, positive values, social skills, responsibility, integrity, and a strong sense of purpose and self-worth.
Current research from Search Institute continues to reinforce the importance of these assets in helping youth build resilience, social-emotional skills, and positive relationships. Recent reports highlight how strong developmental relationships with caring adults improve belonging, well-being, school climate, and overall youth development outcomes.
On average, many young people report having only about half of the 40 assets in place. While youth often identify strengths such as honesty, motivation, family support, and positive friendships, gaps still exist in areas like meaningful communication with adults, opportunities for creative expression, and feeling empowered to contribute to their communities.
One of the clearest findings from decades of research is this: the more developmental assets young people have, the less likely they are to engage in risky behaviors such as substance use, violence, or skipping school. Youth with higher asset levels are also more likely to demonstrate leadership, resilience, empathy, and academic success.
Parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, and community leaders all play an important role in helping youth build these assets. Positive youth development does not happen by accident. It grows through encouragement, meaningful relationships, opportunities to contribute, and supportive environments where young people feel valued and heard.
Organizations such as 4-H, scouting programs, sports teams, churches, after-school programs, and community organizations provide important opportunities for young people to develop these strengths. Communities that intentionally invest in youth create environments where children and teens are more likely to thrive.
When caring adults take the time to support, encourage, and invest in young people, it can make a lifelong difference—not only for the individual child, but for the entire community.
To learn more about these 40 important assets, check out the Search Institute at: www.search-institute.org.
