Supporting Youth Resilience Among Immigrant Families: An Intervention Research Study

Background

Resilience theory has been gaining prominence in primary prevention, mental health promotion programs, and intergenerational adaptation among military families through research-based intervention trials. Although resilience theory is a multifaceted field of study, social workers are keen on its strengths that enable people to rise above adversity. This resilience-based research has been used in narrative approach, and solution-focused therapies in social work. However, applications of the resilience paradigm are more restricted to research-based intervention trials. The purpose of our research study is twofold: 1) to test for the application of resilience paradigm through community-based programming focused on integrated, comprehensive interposition programs aimed at building supportive communities for at-risk adolescents and 2) to test resilient adaptation in individuals and families from diverse cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds among new immigrant populations.

Methods

We used resilience theory as the conceptual framework with specific emphasis on the complexity of multiple influences at the individual, family, and community levels that interact to affect adolescent outcomes. We expended a manualized protocol using a systematic review of interventions across the life course for individuals exposed to trauma administering a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and case management. The intervention was implemented on 20 immigrant families representing a total of 40 study participants through a university-based research center. Participants engaged in weekly sessions through parent groups and youth meetings running concurrent to test the protocol.        

This intervention research study used multi-methods research approach for data collection. Process-level data collection included community needs assessments, biological markers, and self-report questionnaires measuring resilience, psychopathologies, and familial relationships. The data collection for baseline and post-study were based on well-validated instruments such as the Barrett Scale, Short Mood and Feeling Questionnaire, Resilience Scale for Adults, Resilience Scale for Adolescents and Child Behavior Check List.

Results

The results of this intervention using both process and outcome data to date have demonstrated that community based intervention is effective in promoting resilient adaptation in the face of adversity, as well as in preventing the emergence of maladaptation. Results revealed the role of resiliency as a protective factor among at-risk adolescents. It also helped in the cultivation of resilience pathways in immigrant families mediating positive familial relationships and community resources. Results also indicate the importance of multi-sectorial partnerships with parents, community, and schools for healthy youth development that can become self-sustaining over-time.

Implications

Our study provides implications for developing prevention models based on resilience programming among culturally diverse populations, which can be used by researchers, teachers, and human service workers to help youth bounce back from problems they may encounter in their lives. As our society is increasingly becoming multicultural, one of the critical challenges has been to discern the processes contributing to resilient adaptation in individuals and families from diverse cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. Knowledge of these divergent developmental pathways are critical in implementing culturally sensitive preventive intervention strategies to foster the development of resilient adaptation within diverse exosystemic contexts.