Predictors of Resourcefulness in School-Aged Children

Abstract

Children need to develop appropriate cognitive-behavioral repertoires to maintain mental health and prevent depression. Resourcefulness is learned throughout life in the context of one's environment. However, environmental or situational factors and individual factors in children's development of resourcefulness have not been studied. This study examined the effects of the situational factors of family context (one or two parents, and number of siblings) and maternal characteristics (employment, learned resourcefulness, and adaptive functioning), and individual (child) factors (gender, academic performance, and automatic thoughts) on learned resourcefulness in school-aged children. A convenience sample of 122 fifth and sixth graders was recruited from four public schools. The child's automatic thoughts and maternal resourcefulness were predictors of child's resourcefulness. Further research is needed to examine additional factors that may promote resourcefulness in school-aged children, so that appropriate nursing strategies can be implemented.

Relationships of Family Functioning, Self-Esteem, and Resourceful Coping of Thai Adolescents With Asthma

“…This is consistent with some previous research (Zauszniewski, Chung, Chang, & Krafcik, 2002). However, previous studies of age differences in learned resourcefulness have produced mixed results.…”

Learned Resourcefulness, Social Support, and Perinatal Depression in Chinese Mothers

“…The level of learned resourcefulness for Chinese women was fairly stable across the perinatal period, with mean scores similar to those reported for women in Western societies (Chang et al, 2007;Zauszniewski, Chung, Chang, & Krafcik, 2002). The positive impact of learned resourcefulness on depressive symptoms is consistent with Rosenbaum's (1990) view that individuals with a high level of learned resourcefulness cope with challenges more effectively.…”

Variables contributing to academic success in an intermediate statistics course: the importance of learned resourcefulness

“…Individuals possessing a large general repertoire of learned resourcefulness skills make use of positive self-instructions, delay gratification, apply problem-solving methods and employ other self-control strategies when dealing with negative emotions (Rosenbaum & Cohen, 1999), breaking bad habits (Kennett, Morris, & Bangs, 2006), adhering to medical regimens (Zauszniewski & Chung, 2001), or overcoming other adversities they encounter (Edwards & Riordan, 1994;McWhirter, 1997). Evidence shows that these skills begin to develop in early childhood, through interaction and modelling from others (Preechawong et al, 2007;Turkel & Tezer, 2008;Zauszniewski, Chung, Chang, & Krafcik, 2002), and become stable by early adulthood (Rosenbaum, 1990).…”