Resilience is a concept used frequently among researchers and educational and health authorities in discussions of attempts aimed at reducing social, emotional and educational problems among our children and young people. The central role of schools in the lives of children has logically meant the involvement of schools in any programs aimed at building resilience in children and adolescents. However, those who would be most intimately involved in implementing such programs are often confused by the concept and what is expected of them to build resilience on a daily basis. This paper seeks to clarify some of this confusion by highlighting some of the main findings about resilience in the existing literature. It then seeks to consider how this knowledge can be considered within each of the areas that will be needed to work as an integrated whole to achieve lasting results, as well as considering some of the issues that may hinder that goal.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BeardsleeW.R. & PodorefskyD. (1988). Resilient adolescents whose parents have serious affective and other psychiatric disorders: Importance of self-understanding and relationships. American Journal of Psychiatry, 145(1), 63–69.
2.
Benard, (1995). Fostering resilience in children: ERIC Digest. ERIC: Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Urbano, IL.
3.
BormanG.D., HewesG.M., OvermanL.T., & BrownS. (2002). Comprehensive school reform and student achievement: A meta-analysis. (Report No. 59). Baltimore, MD: Centre for Research on the Education of Students Placed at Risk (CESPAR), The John Hopkins University.
4.
CalhounL.G., & TedeschiR.G. (1991). Perceiving benefits in traumatic events: Some issues for practicing psychologistsThe Journal of Training and Practice and Professional Psychology, 5(1), 45–52.
5.
CiarrochiJ., DeaneF.P., WilsonC.J., & RickwoodD. (2002) Adolescents who need help the most are the least likely to seek it: The relationship between low emotional competence and low intention to seek help. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 30(2), 173–188.
6.
Consortium on School-Based Promotion of Social Competence. (1994). The school-based promotion of social competence: Theory, research, practice, and policy. In HaggertyR.J., SherrodL., GarmezyN. & RutterM. (Eds.). Stress, risk, and resilience in children and adolescents: Processes, mechanisms, and interventions, (pp. 268–316). New York: Cambridge University Press.
7.
CowenE.L. (1994). The enhancement of psychological wellness: Challenges and opportunities. American Journal of Community Psychology, 22(2), 149–179.
8.
DeaneF.P., WilsonC.J., CiarrochiJ., & Rick woodD. (2002). Mental health seeking in young people. (Report for National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, Grant YS060). Wollongong, NSW: University of Wollongong, Illawarra Institute for Mental Health.
9.
DonaldM., DowerJ., LuckeJ., & RaphaelB. (1999). Report of the Queensland Young People's Mental Health Survey, Queensland Health.
10.
DumontM., & ProvostM.A. (1999). Resilience in adolescents: Protective role of social support, coping strategies, self-esteem, and social activities on experience of stress and depression. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 28(3), 343–363.
11.
EdelwichJ. (1980). Burnout: Stages of disillusionment in the helping professions. New York: Human Sciences Press.
12.
EgelandB., CarlsonE. & SroufeL.A. (1993). Resilience as process. Development and Psychopathology, 5, 517–528.
13.
FreitasA.L. & DowneyG. (1998). Resilience: A dynamic perspective. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 22(2), 263–285.
14.
GardnerJ. & HarmonT. (2002). Exploring resilience from a parent's perspective: A qualitative study of six resilient mothers of children with an intellectual disability. Australian Social Work, 55(1), 60–68.
15.
GarmezyN. (1990). A closing note: Reflections on the future. In RolfJ., MastenA., CicchettiD., NuechterleinK., & WeintraubS. (Eds.). Risk and protective factors in the development of psychopathology. (pp. 527–534). New York: Cambridge University Press.
16.
GilliesR.M. (2000). The maintenance of cooperative and helping behaviours in cooperative groups. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 70, 97–111.
17.
GilliganR. (1999). Enhancing the resilience of children and young people in public care by mentoring their talents and interest. Child and Family Social Work, 4, 187–196.
18.
GordonE.W. & SongL.D. (1994). Variations in the experience of resilience. In: WangM.C. & GordonE.W.. (Eds.) Educational resilience in inner-city America: Challenges and prospects, (pp. 27–43). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
19.
Grotberg (1995) A guide to promoting resilience in children: Strengthening the human spirit. Netherlands: Bernard Van Leer Foundation, http://resilient.uiuc.edu/library/grot95b.html
20.
HammenC., & Goodman-BrownT. (1990). Self-schemas and vulnerability to specific life stress in children at risk for depression. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 14(2), 215–227.
21.
HubbleM.A., DuncanB.L. & MillerS.D. (1999). The heart and soul of change: What works in psychotherapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
22.
Janoff-BulmanR. (1992). Shattered assumptions: Towards a new psychology of trauma. New York: The Free Press.
23.
KahiliS. (1988). Intervention for burnout in the helping professions: A review of the empirical evidence. Journal of Counselling Review, 22(3), 310–342.
24.
KaufmannJ., CookA., ArnyL., JonesB., & PittinskyT. (1994). Problems defining resiliency: Illustrations from the study of maltreated children. Development and Psychopathology, 6, 215–229.
25.
KotchickB.A., & ForehandR. (2002). Putting parenting in perspective: A discussion of the contextual factors that shape parenting practices. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 11(3), 255–269.
26.
KumpferK.L. (1999). Factors and processes contributing to resilience: The resilience framework. In Glanz & Johnson (Eds.) Resilience and development: Positive life adaptations. (pp. 179–224). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum.
27.
LutharS.S., & CicchettiD. (2000). The construct of resilience: Implications for interventions and social policies. Development and Psychopathology, 2, 857–885.
28.
LutharS.S., CicchettiD., & BeckerB. (2000). The construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child Development, 71(3), 543–562.
29.
MartinekT.J., & HellisonD.R. (1997) Fostering resiliency in underserved youth through physical activity. Quest, 49, 34–49.
30.
MastenA.S. (1994) Resilience in individual development: Successful adaptation despite risk and adversity. In WangM.C. & GordonE.W. (Eds.). Educational resilience in inner-city America: Challenges and prospects, (pp. 3–25). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
31.
MastenA.S. (2001) Ordinary magic: Resilience processes in development. American Psychologist, 56(3), 227–238.
32.
MastenA.S., BestK.M., & GarmezyN. (1990). Resilience and development: Contribution from the study of children who overcome adversity. Development and Psychopathology, 2, 425–444.
33.
MastenA.S., & CoatsworthJ.D. (1998) The development of competence in favourable and unfavourable environments. American Psychologist, 53(2), 205–220.
34.
MitchellJ.T., & BrayG.P. (1990) Emergency services stress: Guidelines for preserving the health and careers of emergency services personnel. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
35.
MoffittT.E. (1993). Adolescence-limited and life-course persistent antisocial behavior: A developmental taxonomy. Psychological Review, 100(4), 674–701.
36.
MzarekD. & HaggertyR.J. (1994). Reducing risks for mental disorders. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
37.
NeimeyerR.A. (2000) Lessons of loss: A guide to coping. Clayton South, VIC: Centre for Grief Education.
38.
O'GradyD., & MetzJ.R. (1987). Resilience in children at high risk for psychological disorder. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 12(1), 3–23.
39.
Orrell-ValenteJ.K., PinderhughesE.E., ValenteE., & LairdR.D. (1999). If it's offered, will they come? Influences on parents' participation in a community-based conduct problems prevention program. American Journal of Community Psychology, 27(6), 753–783.
40.
PattersonJ.M. (2002). Integrating family resilience and family stress theory. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 64(2), 349–360.
41.
PattonG.C., GloverS., BondL., ButlerH., GodfreyC., Di PietroG., & BowesG. (2000). The Gatehouse Project: A systematic approach to mental health promotion in secondary schools. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 34, 586–593.
42.
PiantaR.C., & WalshD.J. (1998). Applying the construct of resilience in schools: Cautions from a developmental systems perspective. School Psychology Review, 27(3), 407–417.
43.
PriorM., SansonA., SmartD. & OberklaidF. (2000). Pathways from infancy to adolescence: Australian Temperament Project 1983–2000. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
44.
RaphaelB., & WilsonJ.R. (Eds.). (2000). Psychological debriefing: Theory, practice and evidence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
45.
RoweK.J., & RoweK.S. (May, 2002). What matters most: Evidence-based findings in key factors affecting educational experiences and outcomes for girls and boys throughout their primary and secondary schooling. Supplementary submission to House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Training. Inquiry into the Education of Boys. Australia.
46.
RutterM. (2003). Commentary: Nature-nurture interplay in emotional disorders. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 44(7), 934–944.
47.
SchwartzbergS.S., & Janoff-BulmanR. (1991). Grief and the search for meaning: Exploring the assumptive worlds of bereaved college studentsJournal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 10(3), 270–288.
48.
SteinhausenH-C., & MetzkeC.W. (2001). Risk, competency, vulnerability and protective factors influencing mental health in adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 30(3), 259–280.
49.
TerrL. (1991). Childhood traumas: An outline and overview. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 148(1), 10–20.
50.
WalshF. (1996) The concept of family resilience: Crisis and challenge. Family Process, 35(3), 261–181.
51.
WatersM. & CrookR. (1990). Sociology One: Principles of sociological analysis for Australians 2nd Ed.Melbourne: Longman Cheshire.
52.
WeareK. (2002). Editorial: Don't shoot the piano player: Why we need to do more to promote the mental health and emotional and social competence of teachers. Health Education, 102(6), 269.
53.
Webster-StrattonC., & TaylorT. (2001) Nipping early risk factors in the bud: Preventing substance abuse, delinquency, and violence in adolescence through interventions targeted at young children (0–8 years). Prevention Science, 2(3), 165–192.
54.
WernerE.E., & SmithR.S. (1992). Overcoming the odds: High risk children from birth to development. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
55.
WymanP.A., Pedro-CarrollJ., & Forbes-JonesE.L. (2003) Resilience, Childhood. In GullottaT.P. & BloomM. (Eds.). Encyclopedia of primary prevention and health promotion, (pp. 889–895) New York: Kluwer.
