3-053 - Rising Despite Risk: Adolescent Resilience in Multiple Contexts of Risk Exposure

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Adolescence is marked by increased vulnerability to risk, thus making it important to understand processes of resilience. In a series of four studies, we explore individual and contextual factors that facilitate positive adjustment despite risk.

The first study finds that habitual cognitive reappraisal is associated with maladaptive physiological reactivity in the context of low peer victimization, but adaptive physiological reactivity in the context of high peer victimization (Mage=14.9; N=157). While habitual reappraisal may reflect overregulation among non-victimized youth, these cognitions may promote resilience among victimized youth.

The second study demonstrates that moderate exposure to stress, as opposed to relatively higher or lower, reduces the impact of deviant peer influence on antisocial behavior (Mage=17.4; N=158). Results indicate that moderate stress exposure may equip youth with the assets to overcome other risk factors.

The third study of low-income males (Mage=18; N=257) reports that high ethnic identity exacerbates the association between discrimination and aggression, but buffers the impacts of family stress on aggression. Ethnic identity achievement may increase the salience of discrimination, but may reflect cognitive maturity that youth can draw from to manage family stress.

The fourth study examines urban youth longitudinally (Mage=18; N=257), reporting that initial high rates of victimization are associated with lower levels of alcohol use. Thus, some exposure to risk can act as a buffer against future risk factors.

Our studies suggest the field must advance its assumption of linear associations between risk factors and adolescent development to explore how moderating factors or curvilinear associations may indicate resilience.

Sub Unit

• Developmental Psychopathology

Chair

• Jamie Amemiya, Univ of Pittsburgh

Individual Presentations

• Peer Victimization Moderates the Relationship between Cognitive Reappraisal and Changes in Parasympathetic Activity - Presenting Author: Kara Christensen, Ohio State University; Amelia Aldao, The Ohio State University; Margaret A. Sheridan, Harvard University; Kate McLaughlin, University of Washington

• Up for the Challenge: Moderate Exposure to Challenging Stressors Buffers Impact of Deviant Peer Influence on Antisocial Behavior - Presenting Author: Jamie Amemiya, Univ of Pittsburgh; Kathryn Monahan, University of Pittsburgh

• The Protective Role of Ethnic Identity and Positive Youth Development: Assets for Black and Latino Males Experiencing Stress - Presenting Author: Joanna Lee Williams, University of Virginia; Patrick Tolan, University of Virginia

• Violence Exposure Profiles and Substance Use Risk: A Test of the Challenge Model of Resilience - Presenting Author: Andria Eisman, Univ of Michigan; Justin Heinze, Univ of Michigan; Hsing-Fang Hsieh, University of Michigan School of Public Health; Marc Zimmerman, University of Michigan School of Public Health