Research on the origins of conduct problems such as disruptive, aggressive, and
delinquent behaviour has focused mainly on deficits and risk factors. Protective
factors have received more attention only recently in the context of resilience
research. In the present study cross-sectional and longitudinal (2-year interval)
comparisons were made of two groups of 14 to 17-year-olds from residential homes.
Both groups have grown up under accumulated stressful life events and circumstances
(multiproblem milieu). One group (N=66) has so far shown no serious behavioral and
emotional problems (Resilients); the other (N= 80) has developed manifest disorders,
particularly in the externalising syndrome. Potential protective factors
(intelligence, temperament, self-related cognitions, coping styles, experience with
reference persons, social support, social climate, etc.) were recorded with tests,
questionnaires, and interviews. Protective factors functioned additively, subtypes
could not be differentiated. Findings from the longitudinal survey showed somewhat
lower effects in personal resources and were only partially consistent with the
cross-sectional comparison. Possible reasons for these discrepancies are discussed,
and it is suggested that the construct of resiliency in multi-problem milieus
requires a dynamic, development and context-related interpretation.
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