Factors Promoting Youth Resilience
Abstract #287
Title: What makes the difference: Promoting resilience in school-aged students
Presenter: J-F (University of Tasmania, Australia)
Co-Authors: J-F, Darren Pullen, Karen Swabey, Andrew Wicking
Introduction: Resilience is an important aspect of human development. But little is known in terms of what tenants are fundamental to promoting or developing resilience. The following paper using a developmental paradigm argues that: developmental assets, constructive capabilities, and psychological competencies are core tenants of resilience.
Methods: A total of 120,036 Australian students (primary and secondary) from all parts of the country completed a resilience survey. All participants were school age students whose ages ranged from 7 to 18 years. Surveys were conducted over a three-year period from 2013 to 2016.
Findings/Implications: This study is the first of its kind, accounting for a variety of different developmental assets, strengths, and resources; and furthermore, making the case for the contribution of these constructs toward developing the concept of resilience.
Abstract #296
Title: Children and adults’ perspectives on factors that support and harm child well-being in their communities: Findings from Shinyanga, TanzaniaPresenter: Tomaida Banda (Firelight Foundation, USA)
Co-Authors: Sadaf Shallwani, Amina Abubakar
Introduction: In Shinyanga, Tanzania, a number of factors undermine child wellbeing, including high rates of child marriage and child labor. Community-based organizations (CBOs), supported by Firelight Foundation, are at the frontlines tackling these issues, working at multiple levels to protect children’s rights.
Methods: CBO facilitators used Community Dialogues, a set of participatory methodologies, to surface community perspectives around child protection and well-being. Children and adults were asked about where children spend time, and factors that support and harm children in these spaces.
Key findings indicated:
• Children spend most of their time at home and school, indicating that these should remain key spaces to target in child protection efforts.
• Adequate provisions, resources, and facilities are fundamentals for child wellbeing.
• Social-emotional climates and interpersonal relationships are key for child wellbeing.
• Girls and children with disabilities are disproportionately affected by harmful factors.
• Engaging community stakeholders in discussion and reflection can be an important strategy to improving the community environment for child wellbeing.
Findings: The findings indicate that multi-faceted and community-based strategies are the best approach to address the myriad of factors affecting children, thereby improving overall child protection and wellbeing in communities.
Abstract #83
Title: Have sociocultural processes anything to say about the impact of different resilience protective resources among adolescent samples?
Presenter: Frederick Anyan (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Australian National University, Norway)
Co-Author: Odin Hjemdal
Introduction: Contextual and sociocultural norms such as collective identity and interdependent self-ways may influence the utility of resilience protective resources in the way they function within the person, in families and external social support systems. This study investigates the mediated impact of different resilience protective factors in a predominantly collectivistic culture.
Methods: A final sample of 527 Ghanaian adolescents aged between 13 -17 years (M = 15.25, SD = 1.52) completed the Resilience Scale for Adolescents, Adolescent Stress Questionnaire, and Short Mood Feeling Questionnaire. Individual resilience protective factors comprising family cohesion, social resources, structured style, social competence and personal competence were evaluated to ascertain their respective effect sizes in mediating the relationship between exposure to stress and depressive symptoms. Afterwards, collective resilience protective factors namely interpersonal (family cohesion and social resources) and intrapersonal (structured style, social competence and personal competence) factors were also evaluated to ascertain their respective effect sizes.
Findings: Individual and collective resilience protective factors showed different mediating effect sizes. The pathways that explain overcoming psychological adversities in the relationship between exposure to stress and depressive symptoms varies across different resilience protective resources which may be a result of contextual and cultural values and practices.
