Resilience in Igbo Rural Community Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract

While involved in organising an empowerment seminar for the Igbo rural youths, the authors investigated resilience among rural adolescents and young adults. Three hundred and twenty nine (329) adolescents (n = 162) and young adults (n = 167), comprising 159 males and 170 females, were participants. They completed the 14-item Resilience scale and provided some relevant demographic information. Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test for differences in resilience on account of age, gender and level of education. Young adults had significantly higher resilience scores than adolescents. No significant difference was found in resilience scores of males and females. Participants with higher education had significantly higher resilience scores than those with lower education. Of all the interaction effects tested, only age * gender * education had a significant interaction effect on resilience. Discussion of the findings were based on the literature, realities of life in contemporary Igbo society and the authors' observations.

Resilience over time: Learning from school‐attending adolescents living in conditions of structural inequality

“…It was the most popular resilience‐enabler at Time 1 (Theron, 2017), and again at Time 2. This fits with recurring mention of education and education‐informed aspirations in prior studies of the resilience of sub‐Saharan young people (e.g., Chukwuorji & Ajaero, 2014; Lee, 2012; Malindi & Machenjedze, 2012; Namy et al, 2017; Nyamukapa et al, 2010; Phasha, 2010; Theron & Theron, 2010; Van Breda, 2017). It also fits with South African adults' explanations of adolescent resilience (Theron, 2017; Theron et al, 2013).…”

Phenomenology Study: Resilience of Farmers About Natural Disaster

“…Early detection of a catastrophe such as evacuation is the best thing that can be done to reduce the number of victims. Every disaster, both natural and due to human error, leaves sorrow, trauma, impressions, and unforgettable history, both by victims and their families and citizens of the world [9].…”

Championing the resilience of sub-Saharan adolescents: pointers for psychologists

“…The list includes caregiving, connectedness, intelligence and problem-solving skills, self-regulation, agency, mastery, hope and constructive meaning making, and effective schools and effective communities. The shortlisted factors/processes are common to sub-Saharan child and youth resilience studies (e.g., Betancourt et al, 2011; Chukwuorji & Ajaero, 2014; Eggum et al, 2011; Evans, 2005; Gunnestad & Thwala, 2011; Kabiru et al, 2012; Lee, 2012; Namy et al, 2017; Theron & Theron, 2010; Van Breda & Theron, 2018).…”

“…For example, even though multiple studies have confirmed that caregivers play a significant role in sub-Saharan adolescent resilience (e.g., Bhana et al, 2016; Camfield, 2012; Romero, Hall, Cluver, & Meinck, 2018), they have not clarified whether/how caregivers will have greater, or lesser, protective value for specific groups of sub-Saharan adolescents and under which conditions of stress. Similarly, there is ample evidence that education and educational aspirations play a significant role in sub-Saharan adolescent resilience (e.g., Betancourt et al, 2011; Chukwuorji & Ajaero, 2014; Eggum et al, 2011; Kabiru et al, 2012; Lee, 2012; Namy et al, 2017; Theron & Theron, 2010; Theron & van Rensburg, 2018; Van Breda & Theron, 2018). Again, despite the salience of education, it is unclear whether/how education will have greater, or lesser, protective value for specific groups of sub-Saharan adolescents and under which conditions of stress.…”

“…A subsequent review of the SA child and adolescent resilience studies published between 2009 and 2017 comprised 61 studies (Van Breda & Theron, 2018). Likewise, there is continuing attention to the resilience of sub-Saharan children and adolescents living north of SA (e.g., Betancourt et al, 2011; Chukwuorji & Ajaero, 2014; Eggum, Sallquist, & Eisenberg, 2011; Evans, 2005; Gunnestad & Thwala, 2011; Kabiru, Beguy, Ndugwa, Zulu, & Jessor, 2012; Lee, 2012; Namy et al, 2017).…”