title: Moral competence and character strengths among adolescents: the development and validation of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth.
abstract: Moral competence among adolescents can be approached in terms of good character. Character is a multidimensional construct comprised of a family of positive traits manifest in an individual's thoughts, emotions and behaviours. The Values in Action Inventory for Youth (VIA-Youth) is a self-report questionnaire suitable for adolescents that measures 24 widely valued strength of character. Data from several samples bearing on the internal consistency, stability, and validity of the VIA-Youth are described, along with what is known about the prevalence and demographic correlates of the character strengths it measures. Exploratory factor analysis revealed an interpretable four-factor structure of the VIA-Youth subscales: temperance strengths (e.g., prudence, self-regulation), intellectual strengths (e.g., love of learning, curiosity), theological strengths (e.g., hope, religiousness, love), and other-directed (interpersonal) strengths (e.g., kindness, modesty). The uses of the VIA-Youth in research and practise are discussed along with directions for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881-0808, USA. npark@uri.edu
authors.forename: Nansook
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002605:Character; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035863:Moral Development; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012945:Social Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D028722:Virtues