13 - Resilience to mental illness

Resilience to mental illness

© SPMM Course (Note that the concept of Good-Enough Mothering was proposed by Winnicott; according to him mothers provide a holding environment. A mother does not need to be perfect, but she must provide good-enough mothering.) EAS model (Buss & Plomin 1984) describes three major dimensions: Emotionality – Activity – Sociability in children. EAS is a strongly biological model that views temperament as inherited personality traits exhibited in early life. Resilience to mental illness Resilience refers to the ability of children to function well in the face of adversity. There are 2 ways of considering resilience. 1. Resilience as a positive psychological outcome in the face of adversity. 2. Resilience as a dynamic process of psychological functioning that increases positive and reduces adverse outcomes in the face of adversity (Cummings, Davies, & Campbell, 2000). Masten and Coatsworth (1998) reported that when children are faced with highly adverse situations (e.g. parental mental illness, family violence, poverty, natural disasters etc.), personal characteristics such as good intellectual functioning; appealing, sociable, easygoing disposition; self-efficacy, self-confidence, high self-esteem; talents; and faith can produce a positive psychological outcome despite adversity. Certain family characteristics also convey resilience. These include having a close relationship with a caring parent figure, authoritative parenting (e.g., warmth, structure, high expectations), higher socioeconomic status and having extended family networks. Extrafamilial factors that increase resilience include having bonds to supportive adults outside the family, being attached to prosocial organizations, and attending efficient schools/institutions.