Define resilience, and describe the factors that seem to offer protection from the damaging effects of stressful life events

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: Resilience is the ability to adapt effectively in the face of threats to development. Four broad factors seem to offer protection from the damaging effects of stressful life events:
1. Personal characteristics: A child's genetically influenced characteristics can reduce exposure to risk or lead to experiences that compensate for early stressful events.
2. A warm parental relationship: A close relationship with at least one parent who provides warmth, appropriately high expectations, monitoring of the child's activities, and an organized home environment fosters resilience.
3. Social support outside the immediate family: The most consistent asset of resilient children is a strong bond with a competent, caring adult. For children who do not have a close bond with either parent, a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or teacher who forms a special relationship with the child can promote resilience.
4. Community resources and opportunities: Good schools, convenient and affordable health care and social services, libraries, and recreation centers foster both parents' and children's well-being.