How can we best promote resiliency in people as they transition through the later stages of development?

 

Within various stages of life, individuals encounter events filled challenges and distress, which can hinder or hamper them in overcoming and moving forward to the next stage. Resilience is psychological approach of positively adjusting to the environment, when struck with adversity. Childhood, youth, adolescence and young adult stages are each delicate stages of life, in which potentially traumatic events might occur. Children and youth in particular have a greater likelihood of encountering problems throughout their developmental process due to lack of proper familial support and societal intervention. Adverse events during family life cycle can translate into issues in family relationships, mental health and overall family functioning. These contexts may be escalated due to other challenges such as differences in structure and composition of families, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

What fosters resilience of and what

hinders resilience, it can be concluded that the basis for encouraging high levels of resilience is a part of the basics

for survival, interpersonal relationships, and social support. It has been

shown that the protective factors for almost any demographic are to have a secure, solid support from family

members, friends, and school. Every adverse life event may not result in an individual coping with resilient

mechanisms but the best way to increase the chances of the individual going through an extreme adverse life

event unscathed is to strengthen the research proven protective factors by fostering better familial relationships,

teacher-student relationships, and peer relationships.

The new generation of youth is plagued by so many new issues than what the generations before them

experienced. It is time to revamp the strategies that were once valid in transitioning from stress to resiliency.

When these types of programs are developed and implemented in communities across the nation and professionals are well versed and trained to help in these areas, then we may see a significant improvement in the levels of resilience among youth and adolescents.