The Hidden Cost of Resilience

Episode 202, “The Hidden Cost of Resilience.” The ability to bounce back from trauma is a good thing. But, increasingly, research is uncovering signs that all may not be well with the kids who look like they’re doing just fine. We spoke to Dr. Ernestine Briggs-King about resilience—and its hidden costs. How can we help kids and families cope with trauma? What factors put children at higher risk? And what does the latest research tell us about the long-term health issues that even the most resilient children may face?

Topics in this episode:

·         What is resilience? (1:25)

·         Factors that help people be resilient (2:59)

·         Abuse disrupts social connections (9:01)

·         Racism, homophobia, and other compounding factors (12:25)

·         The hidden cost of resilience (17:25)

·         Talking to caregivers (25:20)

·         Racism’s impacts, and the role of caregivers (28:54)

·         Resources (33:13)

·         Our next episode (36:58)

Links:

Ernestine Briggs-King, Ph.D., Duke University School of Medicine, and the Center for Child & Family Health

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Robert Pynoos, MD, UCLA

Gene Brody, Ph.D. “UGA Research Uncovers Cost of Resiliency in Kids,” by April Reese Sorrow, May 20, 2013, University of Georgia Columns.

“Is Resilience Only Skin Deep? Rural African Americans' Preadolescent Socioeconomic Status-Related Risk and Competence and Age 19 Psychological Adjustment and Allostatic Load,” by Gene H. Brody Tianyi Yu, et al, July 1, 2013, Psychological Science, Vol. 24(7): 1285-1293.

“Family Support Buffers the Physiological Effects of Racial Discrimination,” by Gene Brody, March 1, 2016, Association for Psychological Science Observer.

 “The Hidden Cost of Resilience,” by Leonora Desar, June 6, 2013, Psychology Today.

Professor Ann S. Masten, University of Minnesota, author of Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development

This New Yorker article, “How People Learn to Become Resilient,” talks about the work of Norman Garmezy and Emmy Werner.

Sir Michael Rutter

National Child Traumatic Stress Network 

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at nationalchildrensalliance.org.

Chapters

• 1:25 What is resilience?
• 2:59 Factors that help people be resilient
• 9:01 Abuse disrupts social connections
• 12:25 Racism, homophobia, poverty, and other compounding factors
• 17:25 The hidden cost of resilience
• 25:20 How to talk to caregivers about this
• 28:54 Racism’s impacts, and the role of caregivers
• 33:13 Resources
• 36:58 Our next episode topic