Thriving in Academic Settings: Contextualizing and Measuring the 5Cs of Positive Youth Development Among Students

This three-part investigation contextualizes the Positive Youth Development framework within educational settings through the Academic Positive Youth Development (A-PYD) scale, a measure designed to assess the 5Cs—competence, confidence, connection, character, and compassion—among students. Across three studies, the 15-item A-PYD scale demonstrated robust psychometric properties, with a consistent five-factor structure supported by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Study 1 ( n = 863 Filipino undergraduates) established measurement invariance across gender and socio-economic status, while Study 2 ( n = 581 Filipino secondary and undergraduate students) confirmed invariance across educational levels and linked the 5Cs to key psychological (anxiety, depression, and resilience) and academic outcomes (intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and amotivation). Study 3 ( n = 614 Filipino and mainland Chinese undergraduates) extended these findings, demonstrating cross-cultural invariance and exploring the role of growth mindset in promoting the 5Cs. Together, these results underscore the A-PYD scale’s utility as a practical tool for educational researchers and practitioners in identifying and nurturing student strengths across diverse academic settings. Limitations and future directions are discussed.