An examination of youth developmental assets in Ethiopian universities and their influence with students’ academic achievement

ABSTRACT This study was carried out using strength-based approach to examine the interwoven influences of youth developmental assets in thriving students’ academic achievement. Data were collected from 375 (146 females& 229 males) students in three universities using multi-stage and stratified sampling. College asset measurement profile for undergraduate students and academic record of students were used to collect data. Students scored statistically significant higher mean than the expected mean in their internal developmental assets while they scored significantly below the expected mean in their external developmental assets. The MANOVA result indicated that males scored a statistically significant higher mean in accessing external developmental assets than females. The standard regression result showed that components of developmental assets explained 28.9% of the variation in students’ academic achievement. Creating supportive university environment, enhancing students’ commitment of learning and strategies to empower females in accessing developmental assets were recommended to promote students’ academic achievement.