Exploring trauma and pathways of resilience in youth with chronic illness: A developmental perspective

Chronic illness in youth affects physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. These youth face more difficulties negotiating tasks of adolescence than healthy peers. Experience of adverse life events/trauma can lead to lifelong problems, putting children at risk for additional trauma and cumulative impairments.
Resilience is a dynamic process of positive adaptation and coping when exposed to adversities. This research applies an integrated socio-ecological resilience model following chronic illness/trauma exposure. A multi-systemic model of resilience is applied, exploring various systems surrounding the individual [1].
We will explore and identify resilience trajectories over time, in the context of chronic illness and trauma.