Self-focused and other-focused resiliency: Plausible mechanisms linking early family adversity to health problems in college women. Issue 2 (17th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coleman, Sulamunn R. M.; Zawadzki, Matthew J.; Heron, Kristin E.; Vartanian, Lenny R.; Smyth, Joshua M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 64:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 95
• Publication Date: 2016-02-17
• Subjects: College women's health -- early family adversity -- health behavior -- perceived stress -- psychosocial resiliency -- subjective health; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2015.1075994
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objectives : This study examined whether self-focused and other-focused resiliency help explain how early family adversity relates to perceived stress, subjective health, and health behaviors in college women.Participants : Female students ( N = 795) participated between October 2009 and May 2010.Methods : Participants completed self-report measures of early family adversity, self-focused (self-esteem, personal growth initiative) and other-focused (perceived social support, gratitude) resiliency, stress, subjective health, and health behaviors.Results : Using structural equation modeling, self-focused resiliency associated with less stress, better subjective health, more sleep, less smoking, and less weekend alcohol consumption. Other-focused resiliency associated with more exercise, greater stress, and more weekend alcohol consumption. Early family adversity was indirectly related to all health outcomes, except smoking, via self-focused and other-focused resiliency.Conclusions : Self-focused and other-focused resiliency represent plausible mechanisms through which early family adversity relates to stress and health in college women. This highlights areas for future research in disease prevention and management.