Integration of theoretical approaches of L.S. Vygotsky and U. Bronfenbrenner in studies of youth resilience in Russia and South Africa

Abstract

Context and relevance. The relevance of studying the resilience of young people, which underlies their positive adaptation, is a pressing socio-psychological and pedagogical task. Theoretical approaches to the formation and development of resilience in adolescents and young adults include Vygotsky's concept of cultural-historical development and Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory. Objective. The study aims to identify the characteristics of the resilience of young people in Russia and South Africa, the social and cultural origins of this phenomenon, and to reveal the principles of the dynamic interaction between risk factors and the protection of young people in the context of their native culture. Hypothesis. The resilience of young people in Russia and South Africa is socially and culturally determined. Methods and materials. Potential sources of resilience were analyzed using research by researchers from Russia and South Africa, conducted based on the integration of L. Vygotsky's cultural-historical concept and U. Bronfenbrenner's ecological development model. This paper presents a comparative study of the resilience of young people in Russia and South Africa, conducted within the RYSE psychological program, which includes methods for assessing risk factors, protection, and resources for young people. Sample. The study involved 810 young people from Russia (mean age 18,49 ± 1,87 years) and 891 people from South Africa (mean age 19,58±1,36 years). Results. The hypothesis that the resilience of young people from Russia and South Africa has social and cultural determinacy was confirmed. The effectiveness of training that takes into account the sociocultural characteristics of South Africa is demonstrated. It was found that the main resources of resilience in the South African sample were contextual cultural resources, while in the Russian sample they were individual resources. Conclusions. The results obtained prove the importance of taking into account the multilevel dynamic determinants of resilience and its sensitivity to the sociocultural characteristics of the environment, which suggests impacts that affect many systems simultaneously, which emphasizes the relevance of the ideas of L.S. Vygotsky and Urie Bronfenbrenner.