Study of Resilience in Female College Adolescents and Young Adults: Tough Times Don’t Last, Tough People Do

Abstract

This study is part of a multicentric youth project conducted by Association of Adolescent and Child Care in India (AACCI).
We examined resilience and its association with demographic variables like age, sibling status, academic course, engagement
in extracurricular activities, perceived internet/social media usage and dependence, substance use and perception of control
over one’s life. We used a cross-sectional design with a sample of 17- to 21-year-old female college students from Delhi. We
found that students who perceived control over their lives had high total scores on resilience measures. Students who used
social media had higher total and relational resilience than those who did not use social media. Students who did not
use social media had higher individual resilience. Those who did not see themselves as dependent on social media had
higher total resilience and relational resilience. Those who did not see themselves as dependent on the internet had higher
relational resilience. There were no significant relationships between resilience and the other demographic variables. Results
from the current study shed light on factors contributing to resilience among adolescents. We can use these findings to
develop training programs that promote adolescent well-being