Resiliency in Children and Youth

Toronto District School BoardModel School Study

Dr. Ruth StirtzingerThursday, May 24, 2012

Resilience is…..

The capacity of a dynamic system to withstand or recover from significant challenges that threaten its stability, viability or development

Developmental Research

Developmental Research states it is:

the capacity, processes or outcomes of successful adaptation in the context of significant threats to function or development

doing well in life despite adversity

Two Components of Risk

threat, adversity, trauma

Good Adaptationcompetence, adjustment, health

Resilience helpsmove through adversityovercome childhood

disadvantagerecover from traumareach out to new opportunities

People who are resilient arehealthier and live longermore successful in lifehappier in relationshipsless prone to depression

Tools of Resilience1. calming and focusing2. thought catching3. connections – how we feel and what

we do4. challenging beliefs5. detecting barriers• putting the ‘catastrophic’ into perspective• freeing self from thinking traps

6. generating alternatives – finding new coping and problem solving

What groups have been researched?child soldiers immigrants and refugeessurvivors of natural disastersorphaned or maltreated childrenchildren from uneducated or

impoverished families

To Study Resilience - need - 1. Criteria for ‘doing OK’ in life• competence in developmental

tasks• health• subjective well-being

2. Measures of Risk• adversive life experiences (acute

and chronic, and cumulative)

3. Measures of what might make a difference• personal attributes, relationships,

context• promotive and protective factors in

child, relationships, family, school, and community

Risk and Problems Snowballtransitions increase risks in a

concentrated time windowemotional, behavioural,

educational and health problems rise as risk levels rise

developmental cascades occur (one kind of problem leads to another)

BUT Assets also pile up

ConsiderCumulative risk gradient – the

more risk factors – the lower the function if few protective factors

Homelessness – high risk factor for children

Parent involvement in child’s school – a protective factor

Consider furtherParenting quality moderates riskExecutive functioning mediates

parenting effect on academic success

Elements of Resilience in Young Peopleclose relationships with

competent caregiversconnections to other competent

adultsproblem solving and self

regulating skillspositive self perceptionhope, belief, faith, meaningful

affiliations

Elements of Resilience (cont’d)SES advantagespro social peersconnection to effective schools

and organizationscommunity safety and collective

effecacy

Greatest Dangers for Childrenparent killed or disabledseparation from secure basebrain injurymastery motivation system

extinguishedfaith and hope, life meaning

destroyedpersistent severe trauma

overwhelms all adaptive capacity of child and family

Mobilizing and Improving Adaptive Systemsfoster secure attachmentsimprove bonds with competent/caring

adultssupport healthy family formation and

functionsfoster friendship with pro social peersfoster school bonding and

engagementimprove systems of carenurture brain development

Mobilizing and Improving (cont’d)provide opportunities to succeed

and develop talentssupport cultural traditions which

provide adaptive tools and opportunities to connect with pro social adults