Role of Resilience

From time to time, most children and youth experience considerable stress, hardship and misfortune as a result of various personal and/or situational experiences. While some may develop serious and long-term educational, psychological and social problems, a greater number grow up to lead healthy and productive lives in adulthood. A review of the literature and research on the development of resiliency identified stress-resistant or “invulnerable” children and youth as having common external resources (external factors) and internal traits (internal factors). External resiliency factors include family, peers, community, school culture and engagement. Internal factors consist of empowerment, self-control, cultural sensitivity, self-concept and social sensitivity.

Contributing to these ten (10) resiliency factors are thirty-one (31) separate developmental strengths. Essentially, resiliency can be viewed as the transactional relationship of these thirty-one developmental strengths that result in core competencies, health and wellness while acting as insulation from risk. In particular, the interactive effects of both internal strengths and external relationships, resources and connections are related to the ability of young people to thrive and cope with adversity more effectively than those that experience fewer of the developmental strengths.