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Resilience in Women: Disrupting Cascades of Adversity with Trauma-Informed Practice

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Building Community and Family Resilience

Abstract

Trauma, particularly when experienced early in life, but also throughout the life course, has far-reaching and long-lasting negative impacts. There are a host of biological, cognitive, and relational adversities that stem from past traumas and contribute to additional traumatic experiences that accumulate over time. Individuals who are considered “resilient” are those who are able to positively adjust despite experiencing one or more adversities. However, a person’s capacity for resilience is shaped by a variety of complex and interacting factors. Research suggests promoting resilience among adults reduces behavioral risks, but requires intervention programming that (1) increases access to social support and formal services, (2) provides treatment for childhood trauma and other risk factors, and (3) provides a diverse array of individualized intervention options including addiction treatment. The impacts of adversity and trauma can be seen in men and women; however, women may be a uniquely vulnerable group due to experiencing disproportionately high rates of child abuse and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), as well as being particularly susceptible to physical and mental health outcomes. This chapter describes the prevalence and impact of trauma and ACEs on women and outlines strategies for trauma-informed programming to disrupt cascades of adversity and promote resilience.

This chapter was made possible by the scientific and practical contributions of Gail Lapidus and Mimi Tarrasch with Family & Children’s Services and Women in Recovery and Women’s Justice Programs in Tulsa, OK.

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Correspondence to Amanda Williams .

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Questions for Thought and Discussion

Questions for Thought and Discussion

  1. 1.

    Resilience is discussed as an outcome, process, and trait. What are strengths and weaknesses of seeing resilience operationalized in each of these ways?

  2. 2.

    A variety of methods are explored to address trauma. Given limited resources, do you think it is more important to focus on addressing those who have been exposed to trauma or work to reduce future trauma from occurring?

  3. 3.

    Women are a vulnerable population for trauma, what other intersecting identities might increase or decrease these vulnerabilities?

  4. 4.

    If you were to create a complete trauma-informed system, using the best practices discussed in this chapter, how would you seek to address women who experience trauma?

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Williams, A., Becnel, J., Giano, Z., Weber, K., Wyandt-Hiebert, M. (2021). Resilience in Women: Disrupting Cascades of Adversity with Trauma-Informed Practice. In: Stout, M., Harrist, A.W. (eds) Building Community and Family Resilience. Emerging Issues in Family and Individual Resilience. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49799-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49799-6_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-49798-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-49799-6

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

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