Resiliency-Based Research and Adolescent Health Behaviors

Over the past fifty years, research on adolescents' behavior has focused primarily on risk factors. The study of resiliency and what buffers adolescents from engaging in harmful health behaviors has received much less attention. This risk-focused approach has included examining what is lacking in a youth's life that may contribute to that youth's tendency to engage in negative health behaviors. While this approach is useful for identifying any correlation between negative aspects of a youth's environment -- whether it be individual, family, school or community -- it only presents half of the picture of a intricate psychological and social environment in which a youth exists. It is difficult to explain why some children are at risk for negative health behaviors while other children successfully negotiate adolescence relatively unscathed. These differing outcomes raise questions about youth vulnerability and resiliency to life's stressors. An increased awareness of what makes adolescents vulnerable and the factors that protect adolescents from self-destructive behaviors has stimulated an interest in identifying protective factors, assets and strengths that diminish the chances of negative health outcomes for adolescents. As a result of this different focus, the study of resiliency has begun to gather momentum. A growing number of researchers and practitioners are beginning to emphasize the importance of asset-based programming to improve the well-being of our nation's youth.