The Social Determinants of Resilience: A Conceptual Framework to Integrate Psychological and Policy Research

November 15, 2024

By: Mercy Berchie, OD and Julie A. Bednark

Poverty, child maltreatment, discrimination, and racism cause adverse health outcomes. The ability to cope with these difficulties depends not just on individual personality traits, but also on our social and economic environments. Successfully navigating these adversities requires that children and families impacted by these adversities can access resources and social supports that foster their resilience.

A recent paper published in the journal American Psychologist makes the case that resilience is socially determined and examines how different government policies can influence families’ ability to thrive, bringing together theory and empirical work from psychology and policy research. This collaborative research led by Briana S. Last, PhD, Assistant Professor at Stony Brook University’s Department of Psychology, proposes an integrative, multi-level framework for understanding the social determinants of resilience. This framework posits that redistributive policies – those that aim to reduce income inequality – play a crucial role in strengthening families’ resilience. The authors, which includes Northwestern University Medical Social Sciences Department Chair and Ralph Seal Paffenbarger Professor, Rinad S. Beidas, PhD, and Clinical Psychology PhD student, Claire Waller, review four specific redistributive policies, and propose that these policies not only materially support children and families, but also promote children and families’ mental health and development.

The four specific policies that the authors analyze are: Medicaid expansion, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), childcare subsidies, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).  These programs share a common thread: providing under-resourced families with additional resources and support to alleviate stress and promote well-being.

So how exactly do these policies make a difference? The researchers suggest that by increasing a family's income and reducing financial strain, these programs create a more stable and supportive environment for children. This translates to better mental health outcomes and a greater capacity to cope with challenges. The study underscores the importance of social determinants in shaping a child's development. It highlights the potential of government policies to act as buffers against stress, promoting not only mental well-being but also a child's ability to thrive in the face of adversity. Further empirical research is needed to fully understand the complex interplay between social policies and family resilience. However, this study offers a compelling argument and new conceptual framework for considering how we can better support families and equip them with the resources they need to build a brighter future for their children.