Skip to main content
Log in

Stress resilient children in an urban setting

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Primary Prevention Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Overviews the Rochester Child Resilience Project, describes its design and measures, and presents preliminary findings. Within a sample of 313 urban 4th–6th graders, convergent sources of evidence identified subsamples of 37 stress affected (SA) and 40 stress resilient (SR) children, all of whom, based on parent report, had experienced ≥4 stressful life events and circumstances (SLE-Cs). The combined SR/SA groups averaged 8.9 SLE-Cs, significantly more than the rest of the sample. Detailed adjustment ratings by current classroom teachers confirmed that SRs were significantly better adjusted than both SAs and a demographically matched low-stress sample. Factor analysis of the stressful events checklist identified 5 factors. Pooled SRs and SAs had higher scores on these factors than the rest of the sample. In direct comparison of the two groups, SAs had higher scores than SRs only on the Family Separation factor.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, S., & Messick, S. (1974). Social competence in young children.Developmental Psychology, 10, 282–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anthony, E. J., Koupernik, C. (eds.), (1974).The child in his family: Children at psychiatric risk. New York: Wiley-Interscience.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bedell, J., Giordana, B., Amour, J., Tavormina, J., & Boll, T. (1977). Life stress and the psychological and medical adjustment of chronically ill children.Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 21, 237–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Block, J. H., & Block, J. (1980). The role of ego-control and ego-resiliency in the organization of behavior. In W. A. Collins (ed.),Development of cognition, affect, and social relations. The Minnesota Symposia on Child Psychology, Vol. 13, (pp. 39–101). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Block, J. H., Block, J., & Gjerde, P. F. (1986). The personality of children prior to divorce: A prospective study.Child Development, 57, 827–840.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, L. P., & Cowen, E. L. (1988). Children's judgments of event upsettingness and personal experiencing of stressful events.American Journal of Community Psychology, 16, 123–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowen, E. L. (1990). Community psychology and routes to psychological wellness. In J. Rappaport & E. Seidman (eds.),Handbook of community psychology, 2nd Edition.

  • Cowen, E. L., & Hightower, A. D. (1989). The Primary Mental Health Project: Thirty years after.Prevention in Human Services, 8, 225–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowen, E. L., & Work, W. C. (1988). Resilient children, psychological wellness and primary prevention.American Journal of Community Psychology, 16, 591–607.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drotar, D., Crawford, P., & Ganofsky, M. A. (1984). Prevention with chronically ill children. In M. C. Roberts & L. Peterson (eds.),Prevention of problems in childhood: Psychological research and applications (pp. 232–265). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emery, R. E. (1982). Interpersonal conflict and the children of discord and divorce.Psychological Bulletin, 92, 310–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felner, R. D. (1984). Vulnerability in childhood: A preventive framework for understanding children's efforts to cope with life stresses and transitions. In M. C. Roberts & L. C. Peterson (eds.),Prevention of problems in childhood: Psychological research and applications (pp. 232–265). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garmezy, N. (1983). Stressors of childhood. In N. Garmezy & M. Rutter (eds.),Stress, coping, and development in children (pp. 43–84). New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garmezy, N., & Neuchterlein, K. (1972). Invulnerable children: The fact and fiction of competence and disadvantage.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 42, 328–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garmezy, N., & Tellegen, A. (1984). Studies of stress-resistant children: Methods, variables and preliminary findings. In F. Morrison, C. Ford, & D. Deating (eds.),Advances in applied developmental psychology (Vol. 1) (pp. 1–52). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gersten, J., Langner, T. S., Eisenberg, J. G., & Simcha-Fagan, O. (1977). An evaluation of the etiologic role of stressful life-change events in psychological disorder.Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 18, 228–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, S. H. (1984). Children of disturbed parents: The interface between research and intervention.American Journal of Community Psychology, 12, 663–687.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gruenberg, E. M. (1981). Risk factor research methods. In D. A. Regier & G. Allen (eds.),Risk factor research in the major mental disorders. Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, DHHS Publication No. (ADM) 81-1068.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guidubaldi, J., Cleminshaw, A. K., Perry, J. D., & Mcloughlin, C. S. (1983). The impact of parental divorce on children: Report of the nationwide NASP study.School Psychology Review, 12, 300–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hightower, A. D., Work, W. C., Cowen, E. L., Lotyczewski, B. S., Spinell, A. P., Guare, J. C., & Rohrbeck, C. A. (1986). The Teacher-Child Rating Scale: A brief objective measure of elementary children's school problem behaviors and competencies.School Psychology Review, 15, 393–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Honig, A. S. (1986a). Stress and coping in children (Part 1).Young Children, (May), 50–63.

  • Honig, A. S. (1986b). Stress and coping in children (Part 2): Interpersonal family relationships.Young Children, (July), 47–59.

  • Johnson, J. H. (1986).Life events as stressors in childhood and adolescence. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kent, M. W., & Rolf, J. E. (eds.) (1979).Primary prevention of psychopathology: Social competence in children (Vol 3). Hanover, NH: Univ. Press of New England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kornberg, M. S., & Caplan, G. (1980). Risk factors and preventive intervention in child psychotherapy: A review.Journal of Prevention, 1, 71–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorion, R. P., Tolan, P. H., & Wahler, R. G. (1987). Prevention. In H. C. Quay (ed.)Handbook of juvenile delinquency (pp.383–416).New York:Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masten, A. S. (1990). Resilience in development: Implications of the study of successful adaptation for developmental psychopathology. In D. Cicchetti (ed.).Rochester Symposium on developmental psychopathology, Vol. 1.

  • Masterpasqua, F. (1989). A competence paradigm for psychological practice.American Psychologist, 44, 1366–1371.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Grady, D., & Metz, J. R. (1987). Resilience in children at high risk for psychological disorder.Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 12, 3–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orvaschel, H., Weissman, M. M., Padian, N., & Lowe, T. L. (1981). Assessing psychopathology in children of psychiatrically disturbed parents.Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 20, 112–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osterweis, M., Solomon, F., & Green, M. (eds.) (1984).Bereavement: Reactions, consequences and care. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, G. R., Cowen, E. L., Work, W. C., & Wyman, P. A. (1990). Test correlates of stress resilience among urban school children.Journal of Primary Prevention, 11 (In Press).

  • Peterson, L. C., & Brownlee-Duffeck, M. (1984). Prevention of anxiety and pain due to medical and dental procedures. In M. C. Roberts & L. Peterson (eds.),Prevention of problems in childhood: Psychological research and applications (pp. 263–308). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robins, L., & Ratcliff, K. (1979). Risk factors in the continuation of child antisocial behaviors into adulthood.International Journal of Mental Health, 7 96–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1983). Stress, coping and development: Some issues and some questions. In N. Garmezy & M. Rutter (eds.),Stress, coping and development in children (pp. 1–41). New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1985). Resilience in the face of adversity: Protective factors and resistance to psychological disorder.British Journal of Psychology, 177 598–611.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Yule, B., Quinton, D. Rowlands, D., & Yule, W. (1975). Attainment and adjustment in two geographic areas: III. Some factors accounting for area differences.British Journal of Psychology, 126 520–533.

    Google Scholar 

  • Staub, E. (1979).Positive social behavior and morality, Vols. 1 and 2. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterling, S., Cowen, E. L., Weissberg, R. P., Lotyczewski, B. S., & Boike, M. (1985). Recent stressful life events and young children's school adjustment.American Journal of Community Psychology, 13 31–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strayhorn, J. M. (1988).The competent child: An approach to psychotherapy and preventive mental health. New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallerstein, J. S. (1983). Children of divorce: Stress and developmental tasks. In N. Garmezy & M. Rutter (eds.),Stress, coping and development in children (pp. 265–302). New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, E. E. (1989). High-risk children in young adulthood: A longitudinal study from birth to 32 years.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 59 72–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, E. E., & Smith, R. S. (1982).Vulnerable but invincible: A study of resilient children. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyman, P. A., Cowen, E. L., Work, W. C., & Parker, G. R. (1990). Developmental and family milieu interview correlates of resilience in urban children who have experienced major life-stress (submitted).

Download references

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Work, W.C., Cowen, E.L., Parker, G.R. et al. Stress resilient children in an urban setting. J Primary Prevent 11, 3–17 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01324858

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01324858

Keywords

Navigation