Enduring strengths: How childhood adversity shapes adult resilience in Kosovo

Abstract

This study investigates how adults who faced childhood adversity develop resilience, using the Resilience Portfolio Model to assess the impact of early victimization on adult well-being and posttraumatic growth. A sample of 689 adults aged 18 to 60 (average age 25.2 years, SD = 9.62) was recruited online in Kosovo, a collectivist and post-conflict society. Participants completed a survey on youth victimization, psychosocial strengths, subjective well-being and posttraumatic growth. Findings from the study show that 93% experienced some form of victimization, including 40% who were exposed to parental violence. Blockwise logistic regressions indicated that poly-strengths (an indicator of the breadth of one's resilience portfolio), sense of purpose, optimism, and religious meaning making were associated with higher levels of posttraumatic growth, controlling for polyvictimization and demographics (total R² = 0.39). Poly-strengths, sense of purpose, optimism, and psychological endurance were associated with higher subjective well-being (total R² = 0.34). Unexpectedly, some strengths were associated with lower posttraumatic growth, including coping, anger management, and moral-based meaning making. Findings from this highly victimized sample show that several strengths seem promising in promoting resilience. Intervention and prevention programs should consider focusing on promoting a sense of purpose or broadening resilience portfolios. More research is needed in other collectivist and post-conflict societies.