Promoting resilience in urban African American adolescents: Racial socialization and identity as protective factors

Research into resilience has increased significantly over the past several decodes. This increase notwithstanding, the need to study further the protective factors that facilitate resilience, especially those factors in vulnerable populations, is important. This article discusses the findings of a study on resilience and protective factors among 131 urban African American adolescents. Educational involvement-on indicator of resilience-was hypothesized to be influenced by unique cultural protective factors. Stressors related to environmental conditions were identified as the adverse circumstances that adolescents must overcome. Findings suggest that significant interaction does occur among stressors and protective factors in such a manner that they enhance educational involvement. Directions for future resilience research and study limitations also ore discussed.