Pathways to Resilience III: Beyond Nature vs. Nurture

Abstract # 276:
Individuals As Community Assets: Resilience And Hope In Community-Based Leaders Of Peru
Presenter: Roxanna Morote
Abstract:
Poverty and social violence have negative impacts on psychosocial well-being. However, in spite of living in social exclusion, community-based leaders improve their living conditions and become social caregivers. We explored if community-based leaders have higher levels of individual resilience and hope, and better indicators of emotional well-being. We compared college students (n = 323), non-organized adults (n = 202), and community-based leaders (n = 167) evaluated with the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA), the Herth Hope Scale (HHS) and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25). Community leaders show higher levels of interpersonal competences and resources, positive self-evaluation and efficacy (RSA), as well as social and global aspects of hope (HHS). However, they show not better indices of emotional well-being (HHS hopelessness, HSCL anxiety or depression). In the three groups compared, low resilience is a significant risk for anxiety and depression (HSCL > 1,75), specially for women. Leadership and gender have significant main effects on the development of RSA social competences and resources (Factorial ANOVAs). In conclusion, leaders show outstanding resources but they are still vulnerable to emotional distress, thus community interventions should acknowledge both their strengths and vulnerabilities. Resilience research may connect individual and community assets through the study of social leadership.