“Some call it resilience”: A profile of dynamic resilience-related factors in older adult survivors of childhood institutional adversity and maltreatment

Gee, Shauna L. Mc; Maercker, Andreas; Carr, Alan; Thoma, Myriam V.

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104565

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…One explanation may be found in the altruism born of suffering model, which not only identifies increased empathy as a motivator for prosocial behavior, but also the collective experience of suffering and perceived similarities with "ingroup members" (Vollhardt and Staub, 2011). In support of this, another study in this research project with the institutional sample has previously identified "group membership" and "collective identity" as supportive factors for wellbeing (Mc Gee et al, 2020). Therefore, it may be that enhanced empathy, combined with a shared adversity experience and collective group identity (as in the institutional survivors), can be linked to "ingroup" prosocial behavior.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…The interview process lasted from August to December 2018 and involved six researchers, including the first author. An interview schedule was developed as a guideline (for further details see Mc Gee et al, 2020 ), with standardized questions but a flexible order, to ensure all important topics were addressed (Kallio et al, 2016 ). The interview schedule was pilot tested and refined through three interviews supplemental to the final sample.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These five stages result in a highly structured output in the form of a matrix containing the cases, codes, and summaries of the data (Smith and Firth, 2011 ; Parkinson et al, 2016 ). See Mc Gee et al ( 2020 ) for a detailed description of these five stages as applied to the qualitative data in this project. Of note for the current study is the theoretical considerations informing the identification of the thematic framework stage, i.e., the motivational process model of altruism born of suffering by Vollhardt and Staub ( 2011 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Childhood adversity and later life prosocial behavior: A qualitative comparative study of Irish older adult survivors

Rohner

Castillo²,

Carr³

et al. 2022

Front. Psychol.

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ObjectiveAlthough childhood adversity can have lasting effects into later life, positive adaptations have also been observed, including an increased tendency toward prosocial behavior. However, little is known about the link between childhood adversity and later life prosocial behavior, with a particular scarcity of research on intrafamilial childhood adversity. Therefore, this study aimed to examine older adult's experiences of childhood adversity and identify mechanisms linked to prosocial behavior. Two adversity contexts (intrafamilial and extrafamilial) were compared to explore individual, as well as broader cultural and contextual mechanisms linking childhood adversity and later life prosocial behavior.MethodSemi-structured interviews (60–120 min) were conducted with N = 29 Irish (older) adult survivors of childhood adversity: n = 12 intrafamilial survivors (mean age: 58 years, range: 51–72), n = 17 institutional survivors (mean age: 61 years, range: 50–77). Interviews were analyzed using the framework analysis method, with reference to the conceptual model of altruism born of suffering.ResultsFive themes were identified on prosocial mechanisms, with three themes in both survivor groups (enhanced empathy, self-identity, amelioration), and two group-specific themes (compassion fatigue in intrafamilial survivors; denouncing detrimental social values in institutional survivors).ConclusionResults identified motivational processes and volitional factors linked to later life prosocial behavior. Connections to caring roles, (lack of) support, and social norms in childhood, as well as the need for a sense of purpose and meaning from the adversities in adulthood, highlight potential targets for psychotherapeutic intervention to promote prosocial responding and positive adaptation for childhood adversity survivors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Childhood adversity and later life prosocial behavior: A qualitative comparative study of Irish older adult survivors

Rohner

Castillo²,

Carr³

et al. 2022

Front. Psychol.

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“…Individual factors can be classified into subjective and objective. Subjective factors typically reflect older adults’ attitudes toward life [ 5 , 38 , 39 ] while objective factors reflect their objectively measured conditions, such as socioeconomic status [ 38 , 40 , 41 ]. Social factors encompass such resources as social networks and social support for older adults.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential factors associated with resilience among older adults in rural China: a multilevel analysis

Qiu,

Cong,

Wang

et al. 2023

BMC Geriatr

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Background Resilience is crucial for older adults who experience adversities, but research on the issue in rural China remains limited. This study aims to examine factors associated with resilience among older adults in rural China, as related to different types of resilience, and under different levels of adversity. Methods Data were taken from the eight-wave (2001–2021) Longitudinal Study of Older Adults in Anhui Province, China. We used data from the eighth wave (2021) for the outcome variables and lagged predictors (2018) to avoid reverse causal effects. The study sample included individuals 60 years and above, excluding new participants from 2021, those without any adverse events, and any respondents with incomplete analytic data. Resilience was operationalized as residuals of the regressions of life satisfaction (Life Satisfaction Scale) and depressive symptoms (CES-D) on adversity, referred to as Type-1 and Type-2 resilience respectively. These two types of resilience were then treated as the outcome variables in subsequent multilevel regressions, with the predictors focusing on individual, social, and environmental characteristics and resources. This study adheres to STROBE guidelines. Results 43% of rural older adults exhibited both Type-1 and Type-2 resilience, whereas 18% exhibited only Type-1 resilience and 7% exhibited only Type-2 resilience. Common factors associated with both types of resilience included self-rated health, satisfaction with one’s own financial situation, and the prestigiousness of social networks. Predictors for higher levels of Type-1 resilience included higher levels of financial and emotional support and more options for places of leisure. Predictors for higher levels of Type-2 resilience included greater access to medical care. The prestigiousness of social networks, higher levels of emotional support and instrumental support, access to medical care, and more options of places of leisure were positively associated with resilience in the low-adversity group (first tertile of adversity), only satisfaction with financial situation was positively correlated with the resilience of the middle-adversity group (second tertile), while better self-rated health, satisfaction with financial situation, and financial support yielded greater resilience in the high-adversity group (third tertile). Conclusions We examined two types of resilience among older adults in rural China, and found that they have shared and unique associated factors. In addition, the potential factors influencing resilience varied with the level of adversity.

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“…Adults with care experience can offer insights about what was helpful or unhelpful during their time in care and can make experience‐informed recommendations for supporting children in care. Although they may continue to experience some vulnerabilities after leaving care (Dickens, 2018; Diraditsile & Nyadza, 2018), many adults with care experience are significantly less vulnerable than children in care and possess greater agency, support and capacity to participate (McGee et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recommendations for child welfare care reform in the global south: Perspectives of 542 adults who were separated from parental care during childhood in 12 nations

Wilke¹,

Roberts

Forber‐Pratt

et al. 2022

Children & Society

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A robust literature has outlined the risks to children separated from parental care. Recently, there has been an effort to reform services to this population. However, the research driving reform has often neglected the voices of adults with care experience, especially those from the Global South. The current research explored recommendations for care reform from 542 adults who had experienced alternative care during childhood in 12 nations in the Global South. Data revealed three themes to improve care: (1) child focus and participation, (2) the need for family placements, and (3) the importance of support services. Implications are discussed.

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“Some call it resilience”: A profile of dynamic resilience-related factors in older adult survivors of childhood institutional adversity and maltreatment

Cited by 10 publications

References 35 publications

Childhood adversity and later life prosocial behavior: A qualitative comparative study of Irish older adult survivors

Childhood adversity and later life prosocial behavior: A qualitative comparative study of Irish older adult survivors

Potential factors associated with resilience among older adults in rural China: a multilevel analysis

Recommendations for child welfare care reform in the global south: Perspectives of 542 adults who were separated from parental care during childhood in 12 nations

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