What's The Point?

Summary

Notable Quotes

Resilience is defined as a "dynamic process wherein individuals display positive adaptation despite experiences of significant adversity or trauma" (Luthar & Cicchetti, 2000)

Background Context

Researchers investigated whether role models (individuals adolescents look up to) contributed to the resilience of adolescents who were exposed to negative non-parental adult influences. Sample included 659 African American, 9th grade adolescents.

Found that adolescents' exposure to negative adult behavior was associated with increased externalizing, internalizing, and substance using behaviors, and negative school attitudes and behavior.

However, role models can also contribute to the resilience of African American adolescents who are exposed to negative non parental adult behavior.

Hypotheses

1. Exposure to negative adult behavior would be associated with negative adolescent outcomes.
2. For youth who were exposed to negative adult influences, having at least one role model would both buffer youth from negative psychosocial outcomes (protective effect) and contribute to more positive psychosocial outcomes (compensatory effect).
3. Having more than one role model would be even more protective.

Methods/Participants

• 659 African-American adolescents (51% female) who were enrolled in ninth grade at the start of the fall in 1994.