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Resilience of children in disasters: A multisystem perspective
Author(s) -
Masten Ann S.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1464-066X
pISSN - 0020-7594
DOI - 10.1002/ijop.12737
Subject(s) - disaster risk reduction , resilience (materials science) , preparedness , perspective (graphical) , vulnerability (computing) , context (archaeology) , adaptation (eye) , psychological resilience , pandemic , political science , psychology , environmental resource management , sociology , public relations , covid-19 , environmental planning , geography , social psychology , medicine , computer security , computer science , economics , artificial intelligence , thermodynamics , physics , law , archaeology , pathology , disease , neuroscience , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Interest in resilience is surging in research, policy and practice as threats from disasters rise and humanity confronts a global pandemic. This commentary highlights the importance of defining resilience for portability across system levels and disciplines in order to integrate knowledge and prepare adequately for the challenges posed to children and youth by multisystem disasters. A scalable definition of resilience is recommended: The capacity of a dynamic system to adapt successfully to challenges that threaten the function, survival or development of the system. Major determinants of adaptation among young people in the context of disaster are highlighted, including variations in adversity exposure dose, developmental timing, individual differences and the socio‐ecological systems of children's lives that can be mobilised in response. Adaptation of children in disasters depends on the resilience of interconnected systems, including families, schools, communities and policy sectors. Implications of a multisystem perspective for disaster risk reduction and preparedness are discussed with a focus on nurturing the resilience of children and their societies for challenges in the near term and long into the future.