August 16, 2021

Fostering Resilience in Youth

By Eva Timothy, Professional Practice Extension Assistant Professor

group of girls

Recent studies show that the constant stressors of this past year lead to increased mental health concerns for our youth (Hawke et al., 2020). For many of us, this new data causes us to question how we can help our youth manage life stressors. These detrimental impacts invite us to review the concept of resilience to better understand how we can improve the well-being of our youth. 

Resilience is the ability to rebound from negative events without it impairing social, mental, or emotional well-being. To increase one’s ability to bounce back from difficulties, there are specific protective factors that are necessary. Protective factors are pertinent because they can inhibit “…behavior problems, anxiety and depression [while improving] immune functioning, social-emotional development, and cognitive development” (Lavoie et al, 2016). The necessary buffers to stress include but are not limited to:

  • A positive and healthy relationship with adults
  • Involvement in community or group activities
  • Hobbies or artistic interests
  • A good support group of friends, family, and neighbors
  • The self-assurance of one’s abilities
  • Introspection- being mindful about how one thinks and feels.
  • Being able to see how one’s behavior affects others
  • Possessing the skill of perseverance
  • Being able to self-regulate desires, behaviors, and emotions when in trying circumstances

(Hornor, 2016)

The necessary protective factors mentioned above are traits that some naturally possess or have due to circumstance. However, this is not the case for all youth. Therefore, it becomes necessary to discuss how we as members of society might begin to help our youth develop skills and provide them with the resources necessary for the development of resilience. 

  1. Involve youth in local community activities that allow them to explore their interests and connect with peers and adults in a positive and encouraging setting (i.e.-local 4-H, sports teams, school clubs, etc.).
  2. Take an interest in the life of a youth. This might include taking time to get to know someone in your neighborhood or religious community. It can be as simple as asking them about an event they had coming up or sending a meaningful text to the individual.
  3. Become aware of mental health warning signs by visiting https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms
  4. If you observe possible warning signs and symptoms, use this website to guide you on how to engage youth in open conversations. Refrain from “you’re not [insert emotion or mental health concern], are you?” questions. This kind of question can lead people to believe you do not want to hear the real answer.
  5. If you have youth living in your home, have frequent and open conversations about things occurring in their life. Be sure to ask open-ended questions to encourage responses that are more than one word (i.e. What was the best part of your day? What was the worst part of your day? Tell me more about…). As you listen, try to understand how your child might be feeling and think of their skillset. You can use their strengths to help them figure out how to resolve a problem on their own. Your coaching can help them develop necessary skills that build their confidence and assist them in exploring their thoughts and feelings. Understanding their inner dialogue can enable youth to truly understand what they think and how they feel, so they can then communicate their needs and boundaries to others. 
  6. Model healthy behaviors for youth who live in your home or with whom you have interactions. Your example can go a long way in fostering their resilience. It could even  lead to them asking for your advice on how to handle a situation.

References