Abstract

Key Positive Youth Development measures have gained international recognition. In Latin America, these instruments are subject to proper adaptation and validation. Chile is not an exception. In the present study, 508 emergent adults from 5 Chilean cities from the north, centre and south of the country were surveyed online (X =22 years old). Linguistic changes were conducted after focus groups, cognitive interviews, expert judges' suggestions, and two pilots. The data was factor- analyzed through ESEM. The study portrays the adaptation and validation of the three core PYD questionnaires in Chile: The Developmental Assets Profile (DAP), the PYD Short Form (PYD-SF), and the Purpose in Life in Emerging Adulthood Scale (PILEA). These questionnaires and their dimensions were reliable in the research (α or ω indices ≥0.75), except for one from the DAP (ω =0.57). Adequate to excellent model fit was obtained across the three tested ESEM models (CFI ≥0.90, RMSEA ≤0.05 and SRMR ≤0.05). The results allow for precise and valid PYD assessment in Chile for practice and research purposes with emergent adults, allowing a better screening of adult personality configuration and the potential reduction of risk behaviors.