Biopsychosocial Factors Associated with Resilience

The scientific study of resilience is a relatively new area of investigation, which began with questions about why some at-risk children and youth somehow defy the odds and thrive (Garmezy, Masten & Tellegen, 1984; Luthar, Cicchetti & Becker, 2000; Rutter, 2013). More recently, resilience research has expanded its focus to include survivors of stress and trauma across the lifespan (Southwick, Litz, Charney & Friedman, 2011) In fact, currently the field of traumatic stress is experiencing a paradigm shift of sorts, where researchers and clinicians have begun to focus on ways to assess and foster strengths and personal growth in the face of trauma and life adversity, in addition to treating trauma-related psychopathology.