Protective Factors for Youth Confronting Economic Hardship: Current Challenges and Future Avenues in Resilience Research

Abstract

Economic hardship during childhood is associated with worse mental and physical health across the lifespan. Over the past decade, interdisciplinary research has started to elucidate the behavioral and biological pathways that underlie these disparities, and identify protective factors that mitigate against their occurrence. In this integrative review we describe these advances, highlight remaining gaps in knowledge, and outline a research agenda for psychologists. This article has three aims. First, we consider the evolving psychobiological literature on protective factors, and conclude that supportive relationships can mitigate against the physical health problems often associated with economic hardship. Second, we discuss recent empirical developments in health psychology, public health, and the biological sciences, which reveal trade-offs associated with adaptation and challenge our conception of what it means to be resilient. Finally, we outline a research agenda that attempts to integrate existing knowledge on health disparities with these newer challenges in order to inform both policy and practice for youth experiencing economic hardship.