Co-creating a youth development survey with racial, ethnic, and gender diverse young people: Examining psychometric properties and measurement invariance

The present study reports on the process of creating a Positive youth development (PYD) survey with racially, ethnically, and gender-minoritized youth and PYD practitioners by measuring (1) Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Identity, (2) Social–Emotional Development, and (3) Program Environments. The Phase 1 survey was developed and piloted following interviews with PYD leaders, youth focus groups, and cognitive interviews (n = 320). The Phase 2 survey was refined utilizing CPBR with youth and program leaders, then pilot tested again (n = 533). Item quality analysis, reliability, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and measurement invariance testing were conducted on both waves. The Phase 2 survey showed improved measurement fit, invariance across diverse groups, and improved internal consistency. Including youth in survey design resulted in a higher quality survey that more accurately represented the experiences of racial, ethnic, and gender-minoritized youth.