Mimi Hanida Abdul Mutalib

Internal assets as predictors for positive emotions among at-risk youth in Malaysia

This study aims to examine internal assets as predictors for positive emotions among at-risk youth in Malaysia. A set of questions was sent out to 1149 youth who were drawn from low-income apartments in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. Of the 1149 participants approached, only 403 participants met the inclusion criteria and completed the questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis suggested that school engagement, self-esteem, interpersonal competence and motivation were significantly predicted positive emotions. The findings suggest that at least four predictors of internal assets are required to produce positive emotions.