Resilience

A Series about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) – Part 3

By Joseph Zanga, M.D., FAAP, FCP

ACEs are not a new problem. The issues presented in Parts 1 and 2 of this series have been featured in the Pediatric literature since the last decade of the 20th century. Why then have ACEs not overwhelmed society, us, and our practices? The answer has many parts, but here we’ll consider a, if not the, major protective element in our lives – Resilience.

Spirit, hardiness, toughness, strength (of mind, character) are all apt synonyms. Specifically, though, Resilience is generally defined as: an ability to recover from, or adjust easily to, misfortune or change. More poetically, author P.G. Wodehouse (1881- 1975) wrote that for most people it is: “…a sturdy refusal to acknowledge defeat, which aids them as effectively in affairs of the heart as in encounters of a sterner and more practical kind." In this Installment, we define it by answering a Questionnaire, companion to the ACEs Survey in Installment 1. As before, please review it and honestly answer how it might apply to you:

RESILIENCE Questionnaire[i]

Please circle the most accurate answer under each statement:

1.  I believe that my mother loved me when I was little.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True

2.  I believe that my father loved me when I was little.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True 

3.  When I was little, other people helped my mother and father take care of me and they seemed to love me.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True

4.  I’ve heard that when I was an infant someone in my family enjoyed playing with me, and I enjoyed it, too.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True

5.  When I was a child, there were relatives in my family who made me feel better if I was sad or worried.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True

6.  When I was a child, neighbors or my friends’ parents seemed to like me.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True

7.  When I was a child, teachers, coaches, youth leaders or ministers were there to help me.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True

8.  Someone in my family cared about how I was doing in school.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True

9.  My family, neighbors and friends talked often about making our lives better.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True

10.  We had rules in our house and were expected to keep them.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True

11. When I felt really bad, I could almost always find someone I trusted to talk to.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True

12.  As a youth, people noticed that I was capable and could get things done.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True

13.  I was independent and a go-getter.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True

14.  I believed that life is what you make it.

Definitely true         Probably true         Not sure         Probably Not True        Definitely Not True

How many of these 14 protective factors did I have as a child and youth? (How many of the 14 were circled "Definitely True" or "Probably True"?)   _______

Of these circled, how many are still true for me? _______

Interestingly, unlike the ACEs Survey, there is no definitive “score.” The Resilience Questionnaire is more of a teaching tool.  Each question is designed to cause reflection, introspection, and, for parents, clues about what might be needed to prevent or ameliorate ACEs in their offspring. For example, question 7 asks about “authority” figures outside the family who might have prompted Resilience. According to a study in the journal School Psychology, teens who had better relationships with teachers and peers had better physical and mental health in their mid-20s. These findings were based on data involving almost 20,000 individuals, including 3,400 pairs of siblings, who were followed from seventh grade to early adulthood.[ii]

In the final installment then we’ll consider how to prevent and/or ameliorate ACEs, even moving beyond your practice to the community, especially the schools and Faith community, in order to do that, and/or promote Resilience. 

Want to learn more about ACEs?

Exclusive to ACPeds Members and Physicians, join us this summer for a CME accredited series on Adverse Childhood Experiences.