Resilience and Vulnerability Among Adolescents in Disadvantaged Communities

Abstract

newlineThe State of Kerala, in India, had made exceptional progress in Human Development newline during the 1980s itself, as reflected in its social indicators. Despite this general newline achievement, pockets of social and economic deprivation are visible in most of the rural newline and urban areas in the State. Children and adolescents as a vulnerable group are affected newline more by these deprivations. This study examines the resilience and vulnerability among newline adolescents in disadvantaged communities in Kerala using qualitative research method. newline By using phenomenological approach, the study explored the lived experiences of newline adolescents vis a vis community living, their family context and construction of self to newline understand the influence of these factors on resilience and vulnerability among newline adolescents. Involvement of risk and protective factors at individual, familial and newline community levels in determining resilience and vulnerability among them was explored newline in the study. The study also explored the response of adolescents, in both constructive newline and destructive manners, to the challenges of community disadvantage. Three mediating newline factors viz., accessibility and utilization of available community resources, social newline participation and exposure to the outside world were found to be the most significant and newline influential factors in reducing vulnerability and enhancing resilience among adolescents. newline The study provides recommendations and suggestions on desirable interventions at newline individual, familial, community and policy levels. This study also underscores the newline importance of strength based social work practice by emphasizing the critical role of newline social workers in building resilience among adolescents in deprived areas. newline Keywords: Resilience, Vulnerability, Adolescents, Disadvantaged communities