Work

Self-focused and other-focused resiliency: Plausible mechanisms linking early family adversity to health problems in college women

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether self-focused and other-focused resiliency help explain how early family adversity relates to perceived stress, subjective health, and health behaviors in college women. PARTICIPANTS: Female students (N = 795) participated between October 2009 and May 2010. METHODS: Participants completed self-report measures of early family adversity, self-focused (self-esteem, personal growth initiative) and other-focused (perceived social support, gratitude) resiliency, stress, subjective health, and health behaviors. RESULTS: Using structural equation modeling, self-focused resiliency associated with less stress, better subjective health, more sleep, less smoking, and less weekend alcohol consumption. Other-focused resiliency associated with more exercise, greater stress, and more weekend alcohol consumption. Early family adversity was indirectly related to all health outcomes, except smoking, via self-focused and other-focused resiliency. CONCLUSIONS: Self-focused and other-focused resiliency represent plausible mechanisms through which early family adversity relates to stress and health in college women. This highlights areas for future research in disease prevention and management.

Source: Journal of American College Health

DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2015.1075994

Authors: Sulamunn R. M. Coleman, Matthew J. Zawadzki, Kristin E. Heron, Lenny R. Vartanian, Joshua M. Smyth

Institutions: Pennsylvania State University, University of California, Merced, Old Dominion University, UNSW Sydney

Language: English

Topic: Resilience and Mental Health

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health