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Resiliency During Childhood

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Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion

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Introduction

The study of resilience is just as broad and dynamic as the definition. Resilience can be referred to as a process, an experience, or a characteristic of adaptation to adversity, stress, or tragedy. One of the most famous examples of thriving after facing a series of life’s perils is Helen Keller who, armed with protective factors throughout adolescence, despite an array of psychological vulnerability, was able to avoid potential negative outcomes from being deaf and blind at an early age and triumphantly navigate life as an author and public speaker. The term “resilience” is often used when discussing coping or coping strategies and is an essential and fundamental area of study in the field of pediatrics.

The resilience concept, also regarded as “mental hardiness,” is the understanding of why some people thrive in circumstances where others have faltered and is a complex and intriguing topic to many. Promoting childhood resilience in order to foster positive developmental...

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Further Reading: Books

  • Brooks, R., & Goldstein, S. (2001). Raising resilient children. New York: McGraw-Hill.

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  • Brooks, R., & Goldstein, S. (2003). Nurturing resilience in our children. New York: McGraw-Hill.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vanderbilt University, School of Nursing Nashville, TN, USA

    Anna Tielsch-Goddard

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  1. Anna Tielsch-Goddard
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Correspondence to Anna Tielsch-Goddard .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut, New London, CT, USA

    Thomas P. Gullotta

  2. University of Connecticut, West Hartford, USA

    Martin Bloom

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Tielsch-Goddard, A. (2014). Resiliency During Childhood. In: Gullotta, T.P., Bloom, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5999-6_114

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5999-6_114

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