Adding Some "Cs": Expanding Positive Youth Development to Include Disability and Identity

Background: Although numbers of youth with disabilities (YWD) are increasing, this population continues to be poorly represented in psychological and developmental research. There is a demonstrated need to better understand identity development in YWD. Objective: The purpose of this review was to determine the applicability of a contemporary developmental model, positive youth development (PYD), for YWD. PYD describes six "Cs" that contribute to thriving in youth: competence, confidence, connection, character, caring/compassion, and contribution. We explored which "Cs" contribute to identity development in YWD, what appears to be unique, and how PYD could be adapted to better include this population. Method: Through a qualitative metasynthesis, we explored how PYD emerged across the qualitative literature from psychology and related fields for YWD. We coded 18 qualitative articles according to the original definitions of the "Cs" of PYD and tracked emerging constructs across included studies. Results: Findings reveal evidence for four out of six of the original "Cs" in YWD. Two emerging "Cs," coping and constraints, may be unique to this population. Conclusions: PYD may be applicable for YWD, but an expanded version may be more relevant to this group. The addition of newly defined "Cs" could contribute to a better understanding of positive development in YWD and other marginalized populations.