2.6 Resilience

Question 1

What is resilience?

Answer 1

Resilience is often referred to as “the ability to bounce back from adversity”.

Question 2

What are protective factors?

Answer 2

Protective factors are defined as characteristics of the child, family, and wider environment that reduce the negative effect of adversity.

Question 3

Why is resilience important?

Answer 3

Greater resilience leads to improved learning and academic achievement.
Resilience is elated to lower absences from work or school due to sickness.
It contributes to reduced risk-taking behaviours including excessive drinking, smoking or use of drugs.

Question 4

What are some biological factors that affect resilience?

Answer 4

Sleep, adrenaline, cortisol, and exercise.

Question 5

What are some psychological factors that affect resilience?

Answer 5

Cognition, perception, emotions, learning and memory.

Question 6

What are some social factors that affect resilience?

Answer 6

Relationships, socio-economic advantage, school, work and school achievement.

Question 7

What are some internal factors of resilience?

Answer 7

Self-belief and self-efficacy – a belief that ‘I can do this’
Self-reliance and determination – the ability to take action and keep persisting.
Good social skills – the ability to get on well with others.

Question 8

What are some external factors of resilience?

Answer 8

Certain external factors also play an important role in determining one’s resilience. Resilience is enhanced by: Having caring and supportive family members, friends and relatives. Relationships that create love and trust, provide role models, and offer encouragement and reassurance.