Review of the Relationships Between Resilience and Positive Youth Development

Abstract

Resilience is the process of, capacity for, or outcome of successful adaptation despite challenging or threatening circumstances. There is a growing consensus from child and adolescent research on important protective factors, such as (1) bonding, (2) competence, (3) optimism, and (4) environment (organized home environment, authoritative parenting (high on warmth, structure/monitoring, and expectations), socioeconomic advantages, effective schools). According to various theories or models, there are eight possible relationships between resilience and positive youth development. Four of the relationships take resilience as a forerunner of positive youth development, and four others regard resilience as a result of positive youth development. These eight possible relationships between resilience and positive youth development are not necessarily mutually exclusive, since they can operate at the same time in an additive way. Evidence supporting the contribution of resilience to positive youth development will be discussed.