THE HERETIBILITY OF RESILIENCE IN YOUNG PEOPLE 1

Introduction
The aim of this research proposal is to conduct a study that investigates the heritability of
resilience using a twin study comparing monozygotic and dizygotic twins using the Connor
Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC).
Resilience is defined as a dynamic process that allows for adaptive coping of stressful and
traumatic experiences both chronic and acute . Being resilient is valuable for young people as it
mitigates the effects of life stressors reducing the likelihood of developing biopsychosocial
disturbances (Beauchaine and Hinshaw, 2107).
Resilience has become important in the social work field in order to better the outcomes
of clients. Studies suggest that an understanding of the factors that influence resilience can
improve clients abilities to overcome hardship and strengthen their capacity for growth and
survival.
Over fifty percent of young people experience potentially traumatic events (McLaughlin
et al., 2013). This demonstrates the relevance of resilience within the youth and social work
sector and that there is a need for support around things that influence mental health. A study
also found that 51.5% of young people identified mental health problems as a barrier to
achieving their goals (Tiller et al, 2021).
It is hoped that with an improved understanding of resilience that services and policies
will be created and improved upon to be more beneficial and appropriate. If there is found to be a
genetic influence on resilience then inventories designed to identify families and offer them
resources and support to help with better coping with traumatic and stressful experiences.

Literature review
The current research on factors attributing to resilience focuses on exposure to risk, stressors and
aspects of individuals’ social ecology (Ungar, 2013; Masten et al., 2021; Fritz et al, 2018; Lee et
al., 2013). The research lacks a consideration for potential variance due to inheritance of
resilience. Whilst parenting quality as an influence on resilience appears frequently in the
research but is not considered by the research as a possibly correlational not causational (Masten
et al., 2021).
A 2019 systematic review (Niitsu et al) examined the precise genetic variants that affect
individuals' biological capacity for resilience and found six genes that were associated with
resilience. While these studies identify a genetic component to resilience they do not reveal how
strong this association is.The article also identified that the current literature lacked a genetic
approach.
Of the research that exists using twin studies some fail to use a measure of resilience
(Amstadter et al., 2018; Boardman et al., 2008; Sawyers et al., 2020). The results from these
studies were inconsistent; Astadter et al. found h2 = 0.5, Boardman et al. found h2 = 0.53 (men)
and h2 = 0.38 (women) whilst Sawyers et al’s results indicated only h2 = 0.11 and the remaining
0.89 they attributed to unique experiences.
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The disparity between these studies suggests the need for further research.

Research Design and Methods

This proposals objective is to examine the genetic influence of resilience on young people using s
bivsritate twin study model. Participants will be selected from the Australian twin registry,
undergraduate psychology students at australian universities and through australian
secondary schools. Inventories completed online over email then analyzed on secure
computers at the Edith Cowan University Campus. Participants will be given a month of
availability to the questionnaire.
Resilience will be measured using the Conor Davidson Resilience Scale: consisting
of 25 items of 5 interrelated concepts and has been found to possess construct validity
(Salisu and Hashim, 2017).

References
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Beauchaine, T. P., & Hinshaw, S. P. (Eds.). (2017). Child and adolescent psychopathology.

Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, (116-130)

Fritz, J., de Graaff, A. M., Caisley, H., van Harmelen, A.-L., & Wilkinson, P. O. (2018). A

Systematic Review of Amenable Resilience Factors That Moderate and/or Mediate

the Relationship Between Childhood Adversity and Mental Health in Young People.

Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00230

Lee, J.H., Nam, S.K., Kim, A.-R., Kim, B., Lee, M.Y. and Lee, S.M. (2013), Resilience: A

Meta-Analytic Approach. Journal of Counseling & Development, 91: 269-279.

https://doi-org.ezproxy.ecu.edu.au/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2013.00095.x

Masten AS, Lucke CM, Nelson KM, Stallworthy IC. Resilience in Development and

Psychopathology: Multisystem Perspectives. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2021 May

7;17:521-549. doi: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-120307

McLaughlin, K.A., Koenen, K.C., Hill, E.D., Petukhova, M., Sampson, N.A., Zaslavsky, A.M., &

Kessler,

R.C. (2013). Trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder in a national sample of

adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 52,

815–830.

Niitsu K, Rice MJ, Houfek JF, Stoltenberg SF, Kupzyk KA, Barron CR. A Systematic Review of

Genetic Influence on Psychological Resilience. Biological Research For Nursing.

2019;21(1):61-71. doi:10.1177/1099800418800396

Tiller, E., Greenland, N., Christie, R., Kos, A., Brennan, N., & Di Nicola, K. (2021). Youth

Survey Report

2021. Sydney, NSW: Mission Australia.

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Ungar, M. Resilience, trauma, context and culture. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 2013; 14(3),

255-266