A Pathway to Resilience for Students Who Experience Trauma: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

• In Event: Leadership and Social Relationships in Adolescent Development

Abstract

Adolescents experiencing traumatic events tend to be more at negative risks, exposed to mental distress, likely to engage in risky behaviors, and have lower academic achievement. However, most of youth survive through adaptive function, manifesting resilience. Resilience has been conceptualized as a process involving interactions among risk and protective factors. This study aims at identifying direct and indirect associations among youth developmental skills and supports, risky/bullying behaviors, mental distress, and academic outcome. The results suggest that developmental skills is positively related to bullying and risky behavior avoidance, whereas the developmental supports is negatively related to bullying and risky behavior avoidance. Moreover, the associations among developmental skills and supports and bullying and risky behaviors were mediated by mental distress.

Authors

• Youngsoon Kang, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Mireya Carmen-Martinez Smith, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Ozge Ersan, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

• Michael C. Rodriguez, University of Minnesota