TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding and promoting resilience in children and youth
AU - Sapienza, Julianna K.
AU - Masten, Ann S.
PY - 2011/7/1
Y1 - 2011/7/1
N2 - Purpose of review: In a context of global concern about the consequences of stress and extreme adversities, advances in theory and methods for studying human resilience have ushered in a new era of integrative, biopsychosocial research. This review highlights recent theory, findings, and implications of resilience research on young people. Recent findings: Resilience research has shifted toward dynamic system models with multiple levels of interaction, including research on the neurobiology of stress and adaption, epigenetic processes, and disasters. Growing evidence indicates individual differences in biological sensitivity to negative and positive experiences, including interventions. Early experiences show enduring programming effects on key adaptive systems, underscoring the importance of early intervention. Studies of developmental cascades demonstrate spreading effects of competence and symptoms over time, with important implications for the timing and targeting of interventions. Disaster research suggests guidelines for planning to protect children in the event of large-scale trauma. Summary: Research is integrating the study of resilience across system levels, with implications for promoting positive adaptation of young people faced with extreme adversity. However, studies on neurobiological and epigenetic processes are just beginning, and more research is needed on efficacy, as well as strategic timing and targeting, of interventions.
AB - Purpose of review: In a context of global concern about the consequences of stress and extreme adversities, advances in theory and methods for studying human resilience have ushered in a new era of integrative, biopsychosocial research. This review highlights recent theory, findings, and implications of resilience research on young people. Recent findings: Resilience research has shifted toward dynamic system models with multiple levels of interaction, including research on the neurobiology of stress and adaption, epigenetic processes, and disasters. Growing evidence indicates individual differences in biological sensitivity to negative and positive experiences, including interventions. Early experiences show enduring programming effects on key adaptive systems, underscoring the importance of early intervention. Studies of developmental cascades demonstrate spreading effects of competence and symptoms over time, with important implications for the timing and targeting of interventions. Disaster research suggests guidelines for planning to protect children in the event of large-scale trauma. Summary: Research is integrating the study of resilience across system levels, with implications for promoting positive adaptation of young people faced with extreme adversity. However, studies on neurobiological and epigenetic processes are just beginning, and more research is needed on efficacy, as well as strategic timing and targeting, of interventions.
KW - plasticity
KW - protective factor
KW - resilience
KW - sensitivity to context
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U2 - 10.1097/YCO.0b013e32834776a8
DO - 10.1097/YCO.0b013e32834776a8
M3 - Review article
C2 - 21546838
AN - SCOPUS:79958759886
SN - 0951-7367
VL - 24
SP - 267
EP - 273
JO - Current Opinion in Psychiatry
JF - Current Opinion in Psychiatry
IS - 4
ER -