The ecology of resilience: Predictors of psychological health in youth in Lebanon

Protective processes across levels of an individual's life influence the likelihood of positive adaptation following adversity. Indicators of resilience are attributes and resources of an individual and the environment that predict positive adjustment. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of resilience indicators across three ecological levels (individual, familial, environmental) among disadvantaged youth living in Lebanon and to examine whether indicators were associated with psychological well-being and psychological distress. A sample of 187 adolescents ages 15 to 23 completed surveys, and hierarchical multiple linear regressions were conducted to identify variables associated with psychological outcomes. Higher self-efficacy, curiosity, social support, and the availability/involvement with spiritual, cultural, and educational opportunities were related to greater psychological wellbeing. Low self-efficacy was the only indicator that was associated with psychological distress independently above and beyond demographic characteristics. Results support the potential importance of considering resilience indicators across ecological levels for interventions seeking to promote positive psychological outcomes for adolescents in highly stressful contexts.

个体生命不同层级的保护性过程，会影响其在遭遇逆境后产生积极适应的可能性。韧性指标（resilience indicators）指的是个体与环境中能够预测积极适应结果的特质与资源。本研究旨在考察居住在黎巴嫩的弱势青少年群体中，三类生态层级（个体、家庭、环境）下韧性指标的存在情况，并探究这些指标是否与心理福祉及心理困扰存在关联。本研究招募了187名年龄介于15至23岁的青少年作为研究对象，完成了问卷调查，并通过分层多元线性回归分析，识别出与心理结果相关的变量。更高的自我效能感、好奇心、社会支持，以及精神、文化与教育资源的可及性或参与度，均与更高水平的心理福祉显著相关。低自我效能感是唯一一项在控制人口统计学特征后，仍与心理困扰独立相关的指标。本研究结果证实，对于旨在为高压力环境下的青少年提升积极心理结果的干预措施而言，兼顾不同生态层级的韧性指标具有潜在的重要价值。