The role of multisystemic resilience in fostering critical agency: UK adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sarah Weidman; Diane T. Levine; Fransiska Louwagie; Kara Blackmore; Linda C. Theron; Dov J. Stekel

doi:10.1007/s12144-023-04578-1

The role of multisystemic resilience in fostering critical agency: UK adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sarah Weidman^*, Diane T. Levine, Fransiska Louwagie, Kara Blackmore, Linda C. Theron, Dov J. Stekel

^*Corresponding author for this work

French

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Critical agency (CA) refers to an individual’s feeling of power in relation to social inequalities. Research has demonstrated that high CA is associated with positive adolescent outcomes, however, less is known about what supports are important for its development. Moreover, a large majority of the literature is based on studies from the US and various countries in Africa; although the UK is saturated with inequalities there is little research within a UK context. In this paper we examine (a) the validity of using an existing measure of CA with a sample of UK adolescents and (b) the extent to which resilience supports account for variance in CA. Our analysis identified two distinct factors of CA: justice-oriented and community-oriented. High CA in both factors was explained by resilience supports associated with peer relationships (p < 0.01). Our findings push us towards new relational, ecological ways of understanding adolescent CA. We close by instantiating a translational framework for those devising policies in support of youth resilience and CA.

Original language	English
Journal	Current Psychology
Early online date	4 Apr 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04578-1
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 4 Apr 2023

Keywords

Adolescents
Covid-19
Critical Agency
Critical Consciousness
Resilience

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10.1007/s12144-023-04578-1

Weidman_etal_CP_The_Role_Of_VOR
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Cite this

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title = "The role of multisystemic resilience in fostering critical agency: UK adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic",

abstract = "Critical agency (CA) refers to an individual{\textquoteright}s feeling of power in relation to social inequalities. Research has demonstrated that high CA is associated with positive adolescent outcomes, however, less is known about what supports are important for its development. Moreover, a large majority of the literature is based on studies from the US and various countries in Africa; although the UK is saturated with inequalities there is little research within a UK context. In this paper we examine (a) the validity of using an existing measure of CA with a sample of UK adolescents and (b) the extent to which resilience supports account for variance in CA. Our analysis identified two distinct factors of CA: justice-oriented and community-oriented. High CA in both factors was explained by resilience supports associated with peer relationships (p < 0.01). Our findings push us towards new relational, ecological ways of understanding adolescent CA. We close by instantiating a translational framework for those devising policies in support of youth resilience and CA.",

keywords = "Adolescents, Covid-19, Critical Agency, Critical Consciousness, Resilience",

author = "Sarah Weidman and Levine, {Diane T.} and Fransiska Louwagie and Kara Blackmore and Theron, {Linda C.} and Stekel, {Dov J.}",

note = "Acknowledgements Jason Hughes (University of Leicester): The authors would like to thank Prof Hughes for his thorough and insightful review of the draft paper. Ellen McWhirter and Benedict McWhirter (University of Oregon): The authors would like to thank Prof McWhirter and Prof McWhirter for their permission to use the MACC, and their interest in our work. Alice Phoenix and Lucie Spicer (Shout Out UK): The authors would like to thank Alice and Lucie for their help recruiting and communicating with schools, teachers, and project participants. Cartooning for Peace: The authors would like to thank the Cartooning for Peace organisation for their valuable work during the mini-course associated with this project. Funding Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/V015060/1).",

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AU - Blackmore, Kara

AU - Theron, Linda C.

AU - Stekel, Dov J.

N1 - Acknowledgements Jason Hughes (University of Leicester): The authors would like to thank Prof Hughes for his thorough and insightful review of the draft paper. Ellen McWhirter and Benedict McWhirter (University of Oregon): The authors would like to thank Prof McWhirter and Prof McWhirter for their permission to use the MACC, and their interest in our work. Alice Phoenix and Lucie Spicer (Shout Out UK): The authors would like to thank Alice and Lucie for their help recruiting and communicating with schools, teachers, and project participants. Cartooning for Peace: The authors would like to thank the Cartooning for Peace organisation for their valuable work during the mini-course associated with this project. Funding Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/V015060/1).

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N2 - Critical agency (CA) refers to an individual’s feeling of power in relation to social inequalities. Research has demonstrated that high CA is associated with positive adolescent outcomes, however, less is known about what supports are important for its development. Moreover, a large majority of the literature is based on studies from the US and various countries in Africa; although the UK is saturated with inequalities there is little research within a UK context. In this paper we examine (a) the validity of using an existing measure of CA with a sample of UK adolescents and (b) the extent to which resilience supports account for variance in CA. Our analysis identified two distinct factors of CA: justice-oriented and community-oriented. High CA in both factors was explained by resilience supports associated with peer relationships (p < 0.01). Our findings push us towards new relational, ecological ways of understanding adolescent CA. We close by instantiating a translational framework for those devising policies in support of youth resilience and CA.

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The role of multisystemic resilience in fostering critical agency: UK adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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