Pathways to Resilience III: Beyond Nature vs. Nurture

Abstract #305
Predictors of Resilience Among High-Risk Mothers: Examining Individual, Interpersonal, and Community-level Factors 
Presenter: Kathryn Howell Co - Presenters: Idia Thurston
Abstract:
Elevated rates of poverty and familial stressors among urban mothers heighten their risk for adversity, which may lead to increased psychopathology. Despite these potential challenges, a substantial percentage of high-risk women exhibit resilient functioning. Guided by social-ecological theory, this study examines the role of individual, interpersonal, and community-level factors in predicting resilience among mothers experiencing multiple adversities, including domestic violence, substance abuse, and severe medical illness. Participants included 45 female primary caregivers, aged 23-60 (M=37.9; SD=9.85). Sixty percent of participants had a yearly household income below $10,000 and 91% were African American. A hierarchical multiple regression model predicting resilience after controlling for individual (age and ethnic identity), interpersonal (spirituality and social support from friends and family), and community-level factors (community cohesion) was significant (F(6,32)=3.24, p=.013, R2=.38). In the final step of this model, higher resilience was associated with greater ethnic identity (β=.43; p=.016) and stronger support from friends and family (β=.35; p=.047). By identifying variables that can enhance resilience, this study offers unique insight into how the functioning of high-risk mothers may be improved at individual and interpersonal levels. Researchers and clinicians should consider these highly mutable factors when developing and implementing interventions for families experiencing adversity.