| Although childhood is ideally a time of safety, many adolescent youth living in low-income urban areas, such as Chicago, live in chronic terror and are exposed to large amounts of community violence. Research suggests that this experience of trauma and neighborhood violence can distort the psychological views of children and have a profound impact on their development and psychological well-being. However, despite the risks associated with violence exposure, some children and adolescents demonstrate resiliency in the face of trauma and community violence. While previous research has highlighted several key factors in the development of resiliency for healthy child and adolescent development, little research has explored the adolescent experience of resiliency after trauma and community violence exposure. This study aims to better understand what is helpful in the development of resiliency despite exposure to chronic community violence. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with resilient adolescents, their caretakers, and therapists, to understand the development of resiliency. Interviews were then analyzed for significant statements, larger themes, structural descriptions and textural descriptions. Results suggest that resiliency is a fluid experience including an active process of coping with challenges, being driven to seek positive experiences, and making positive choices. |
