Description

The Values in Action Character Strengths Youth Survey (VIA-YS) is a psychometric instrument designed to assess 24 character strengths in children and adolescents. It is based on the same theoretical framework as the VIA Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS), developed by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman, and has been adapted to suit younger populations.

Purpose

The main purpose of the VIA-YS is to identify, assess, and better understand the character strengths of children and adolescents. The instrument is used in educational, psychological, and counseling settings and can contribute to the development of self-awareness, self-esteem, and social skills among young people.

Structure and Dimensions

The VIA-YS assesses 24 character strengths organized into six broader categories of virtues:

Wisdom and Knowledge: Creativity, Curiosity, Open-Mindedness/Love of Learning, Wisdom, and Perspective.

Courage: Confidence, Persistence, Honesty, and Vitality.

Humanity: Love, Kindness, and Social Intelligence.

Justice: Teamwork, Fairness, and Leadership.

Temperance: Forgiveness, Humility, Prudence, and Self-Control.

Transcendence: Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence, Gratitude, Hope, Humor, and Spirituality.

Scoring and Interpretation

Participants respond to the statements using a five-point Likert scale, ranging from “not at all true” to “very true.” Their responses help identify individual character strengths and provide insight into how these strengths are expressed in everyday life.

Scoring is based on coding and summarizing the responses for each of the 24 character strengths. The resulting scores can be compared with population norms to determine the relative prominence of each strength. The findings may also support the development of individualized educational, counseling, or personal development interventions.

References

Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2006). Moral competence and character strengths among adolescents: The development and validation of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth. Journal of Adolescence, 29(6), 891–909.

Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. Oxford University Press.

Niemiec, R. M. (2018). Character strengths interventions: A field guide for practitioners. Hogrefe Publishing.

Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Strengths of character and well-being. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23(5), 603–619.