SWYS 2001 News - Southwest Wisconsin Teens Have Many Assets to Resist Negative Influences

Overall Developmental Status of Southwest Wisconsin Youth
Youth reporting positive youth development assets

A majority of southwest Wisconsin teens report possessing high levels of internal and external assets that help protect them from engaging in problem behaviors. The Southwest Wisconsin Youth Survey (SWYS) survey evaluated 19 positive youth development assets, such as positive attitudes toward school, family love and support, and self-esteem. The presence of these youth assets promotes positive attitudes and healthy life styles.

Over one-half of southwest Wisconsin teens surveyed report possessing between 11-15 of the 19 positive youth development assets evaluated in the survey and 21% report
possessing 16–19 assets. Less than 4% of teens report 5 or fewer assets. Research from the Search Institute research says those teens with more of these positive development assets are less likely to engage in smoking, drinking, sexual intercourse and other risky activities.

The Southwest Wisconsin Youth Survey (SWYS) survey was conducted by 19 of 31 school districts in the Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) District 3 and the results are being reported by UW-Extension. More than 5,700 students in grades 7 through 12 in the school districts of Argyle, Barneveld, Benton, Belmont, Black Hawk, Cassville, Darlington, Dodgeville, Iowa-Grant, Lancaster, Mineral Point, Pecatonica, Platteville, Potosi, River Ridge, River Valley, Seneca, Shullsburg and Southwestern completed the survey in September of 2001. UW-Extension faculty in Grant, Iowa and Lafayette counties are involved in processing and presenting the findings.

"The assets that most southwest Wisconsin teens report possessing include: a sense that it is important to help others (97%), a feeling of safety in their community (92%), family love and support (89%), and a high self-esteem (89%)," comments Deb Ivey, 4-H Youth Development Agent in Iowa County. "Many teens also report their parents are interested in their academic progress (87%) and their teachers have high expectations of them (80%). The least reported assets were eating three or more evening meals per week with their family (53%), spending 5 or more hours per week on homework (53%) and reporting positive communication with their fathers (50%)."

"There are differences between males and females on most indicators of positive youth development. Males report more family love and support, self-esteem, participation in extracurricular activities, and positive communication with their fathers. Females report more of almost all the remaining assets," says Christina Kenney, Interim Family Living Agent in Grant County. "Roughly equal percentages of males and females report between 11 and 15 positive youth development assets. However, almost twice as many females (27%) as males (15%) report the presence of 16 or more assets. It also appears that the number of assets tends to decline with age. Survey results indicate that 75% of 7th-9th graders report over 11 positive youth development assets, however, less than 70% of 10th –12th graders report the same number."

"Research by Search Institute and other youth development professionals documents the impact of assets on teen behavior. Generally, teens with more assets have better school success, more positive mental health, higher self-esteem, a decrease in delinquency, and greater peer acceptance. The SWYS survey supports this research," comments Ruth Schriefer, Iowa County Family Living Agent. " For instance, 91% of teens reporting 16 to 19 assets receive As, A/Bs, and Bs and less than 1% of teens reporting 16 to 19 assets get C/Ds and below. In contrast, 72% of teens with 0 to 5 assets report receiving B/Cs or lower."

"Assets also seem to protect teens from risky behaviors," remarks Tom Schmitz, Grant/Lafayette County Youth Development Educator. " Ninety-five percent of the teens who report possessing 16-19 assets and 85% of teens with 11-15 assets do not smoke. In contrast, 41% of teens reporting 0-5 assets and 66% of teens reporting 6-10 assets do not smoke. When looking at frequency of tobacco use and assets, 52% of teens with 0-5 assets smoke monthly, but only 3% of teens with 16-19 assets smoke monthly. In addition, 38% of teens with 0 –5 assets and 19% of those with 6-10 assets smoke daily. Similar trends are seen with alcohol use. In addition, teens reporting fewer assets are more likely to participate in physical fights."

"These developmental assets also impact a teen's self-esteem. Sixty-two percent of teens reporting 16 to 19 assets report having very high self-esteem and only 1% report having moderately or very low self-esteem. For teens reporting 0-5 assets, only 13% report very high self-esteem while 48% report very low or moderately low self-esteem," comments Deb Ivey, Iowa County 4-H Youth Development Agent.

The SWYS survey was funded in large part by the Grant County Tobacco-Free Coalition, the Lafayette County Tobacco-Free Coalition and the Iowa County Tobacco Coalition. Other funders included Lafayette County Families First, participating school districts, the Department of Transportation, United Way of Iowa County, Iowa County Family Preservation and Support, UW-Extension Southern District Resource Management Team, the Biddick Foundation, the Alliant Foundation, and the Iowa County Domestic Violence Task Force.

A full report on the SWYS survey results is due out this spring. Schmitz, Kenney, Ivey and Schriefer are also giving community presentations on the data. For more information on the survey contact your local school district, Schmitz and Kenney at 723-2125 or Ivey and Schriefer at 935-0391.

Return to 2001 News Releases

Tom Schmitz, Grant/Lafayette County Youth Development Educator
Youth and Agriculture Center P.O. Box 31, Lancaster, WI 53813
Phone: 608-723-2125   Fax: 608:723-4315   
E-mail: thomas.schmitz@ces.uwex.edu