Description

The Values in Action Character Strengths Youth Survey (VIA-YS) is a psychometric tool developed to assess the 24 character strengths in children and adolescents. The VIA-YS is based on the same theoretical foundation as the VIA Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS), which was developed by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman. This tool has been adapted to be suitable for younger populations and to help them recognize and cultivate their strengths.

Purpose

The main purpose of the VIA-YS is to identify and evaluate the character strengths of children and adolescents, providing a platform for understanding and enhancing the positive aspects of their personality. This tool is used in educational, psychological, and counseling settings to help young people develop their self-awareness, self-esteem, and social skills.

Analysis

The VIA-YS consists of a series of statements that assess the 24 character strengths, which are organized into six broader virtue categories:
Wisdom and Knowledge: Creativity, Curiosity, Love of Learning, Wisdom, Perspective.
Courage: Bravery, Perseverance, Honesty, Zest.
Humanity: Love, Kindness, Social Intelligence.
Justice: Teamwork, Fairness, Leadership.
Temperance: Forgiveness, Humility, Prudence, Self-regulation.
Transcendence: Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence, Gratitude, Hope, Humor, Spirituality.
Participants are asked to respond to the statements using a five-point Likert scale, ranging from “not at all true” to “very true.” The responses of children and adolescents help to identify their strengths and to understand how these strengths influence their lives.

Scoring

The scoring of the VIA-YS is done through recording and analyzing the participants’ responses. The answers are coded and summarized to produce overall scores for each of the 24 character strengths. The total scores are compared with population norms to determine the individual’s relative strength in each area. The results can be used for the development of individualized intervention and growth programs.

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.