The Resiliency Quiz

Do you have the conditions in your life that research shows help people to be resilient? People bounce back from tragedy, trauma, risks, and stress by having the following conditions in their lives. The more times you answer yes (below), the greater the chances you can bounce back from your life's problems "with more power and more smarts." And doing that is one of the surest ways to increase your self-esteem. Answer yes or no to the following. Then celebrate your "yes" answers and decide how you can change your "no " answers to "yes. "

1. Caring and Support

______ I have several people in my life who give me unconditional love, nonjudgmental listening, and who I know are "there for me."

______ I am involved in a school, work, faith, or other group where I feel cared for and valued.

______ I treat myself with kindness and compassion, and take time to nurture myself (including eating right and getting enough sleep and exercise).

2. High Expectations for Success______ I have several people in my life who let me

know they believe in my ability to succeed.______ I get the message "You can succeed," at my

work or school.______ I believe in myself most of the time, and

generally give myself positive messages about my ability to accomplish my goals-even when I encounter difficulties.

3. Opportunities for Meaningful Participation______ My voice (opinion) and choice (what I want) is

heard and valued in my close personal relationships.

______ My opinions and ideas are listened to and respected at my work or school.

______ I provide service through volunteering to help others or a cause in my community, faith organization, or school.

4. Positive Bonds

______ I am involved in one or more positive after-work or after-school hobbies or activities

______ I participate in one or more groups (such as a club, faith community, or sportsteam) outside of work or school.

______ I feel "close to" most people at my work or

school.

5. Clear and Consistent Boundaries

______ Most of my relationships with friends and family members have clear, healthy boundaries (which include mutual respect,personal autonomy, and each person in the relationship both giving and receiving).

______ I experience clear, consistent expectations and rules at my work or in my school

______ I set and maintain healthy boundaries for myself by standing up for myself, not letting others take advantage of me, and saying "no" when I need to.

6. Life Skills______ I have (and use) good listening, honest

communication, and healthy conflict resolution skills.

______ I have the training and skills I need to do my job well, or all the skills I need to do well in school.

______ I know how to set a goal and take the steps to achieve it.

PERSONAL RESILIENCY BUILDERS Individual Qualities that Facilitate Resiliency

Put a + by the top three or four resiliency builders you use most often. Ask yourself how you have used these in the past or currently use them. Think of how you can best apply these resiliency builders to current life problems, crisis, or stressors.

[ ] Relationships - Sociability/ability to be a friend/ability to form positive relationships

[ ] Humor - Has a good sense of humor

[ ] Inner Direction - Bases choices/decisions on internal evaluation (internal locus of control)

[ ] Perceptiveness - Insightful understanding of people and situations

[ ] Independence - "Adaptive" distancing from unhealthy people and situations/autonomy

[ ] Positive View of Personal Future - Optimism, expects a positive future

[ ] Flexibility - Can adjust to change; can bend as necessary to positively cope with situations

[ ] Love of Learning - Capacity for and connection to learning

[ ] Self-motivation - Internal initiative and positive motivation from within

[ ] Competence - Is "good at something"/personal competence

[ ] Self-Worth - Feelings of self-worth and self-confidence

[ ] Spirituality - Personal faith in something greater

[ ] Perseverance - Keeps on despite difficulty; doesn't give up

[ ] Creativity - Expresses self through artistic endeavor

Promoting resiliency

1.)What is your position in the family? Oldest? Youngest? Middle? Oldest boy?

2.) Do you have any memories or recollections about what your mother or father said about young baby? Or anyone else?

3.) Did anyone ever tell you about you about how well you ate and slept as a baby?

4.) Do members of you family and friend usually seem happy to see you and to spend time with you?

5.) Do you feel like you are a helpful person to others? Does anyone in your family expect you to be helpful?

6.) Do you consider yourself a happy and hopeful ( optimistic ) person even when life becomes difficult?

7.) Tell me about some times when you overcome problems or stresses in your life. How do you feel about them now?

8.) Do you think of yourself as awake and alert most of the time? Do others see you that way also?

9.) Do you like to try new life experiences?

10.) Tell me about some plans and goals you have for yourself over the next year. Three years. Five years?

11.) When you are in a stressfull, pressure-filled situation, do you feel confident that you’ll work it out or do you feel depressed and hopeless?

12.) What was the age of your mother when you were born? Your father?

13.) How many children are in your family ? how many years are there between children in your family?

14.) What do you remember, if anything, about how you were cared for when you were little by mom and others?

15.) When you were growing up, were there rules and expectations in your home? What were some?

16.) Did any of your brothers or sisters help raise you?

17.) When you felt upset or in trouble, to whom in your family did you turn for help? Whom outside your family?

18.) From whom did you learn about the values and belief of your family?

19.) Do you feel it is your responsibility to help others? Help your community?

20.) Do you feel that you understand yourself?

21.) Do like yourself? Today? Yesterday? Last year?

22.) What skills do you rely on to cope when you are under stress?

23.) Tell me about a time when you were helpful to others?

24.) Do you see yourself as a confident person? Even when stressed?

25.) What are your feelings about this interview with me?

ResilienceFactor

Question

Sense ofControl

How do you experience bad thingsthat happen? (Q1a)How does your family experiencebad things that happen? (Q1b)How does your communityexperience bad things that happen?What meaning do you attach to badexperiences?What do you do to handle that whichyou experience? (Q3a)What does your family say about badthings that happen? (Q3b)What does your community sayabout bad things that happen? (Q3c)What does it mean to you to behealthy? (Q11a)What does it mean to your family to be healthy? (Q11b)What does it mean to yourcommunity to be healthy? (Q11c)What do you do in order to bespiritually, physically, emotionally andintellectually strong? (Q24)Are you assertive? (Q25a)How do you show yourassertiveness? (Q25b)How do you feel about the use ofsubstances like alcohol and drugs?(Q38)Do you have a feeling of control overyour world? (Q27a)How does this affect your life?(Q27b)How much uncertainty do you feelcomfortable living with? (Q30)

Problem-Solving

Who, in your life, thinks of solutionsto problems first? (Q4)

Can you describe your ability to solveproblems? (Q26a)Are your problem-solving abilitiesbetter or worse than those of otherpeople? (Q26b)How do you know this? (Q26c)

Role Model Do you have a role model? (Q20a)Can you describe the qualities thatyou admire about him/her? (Q20b)

Self-Awareness

What role do friends play in your life?(Q6a)How do they contribute to youridentity? (Q6b)What kind of friend are you? (Q7a)What do you contribute to yourfriendships? (Q7b)If you died today, how would peopledescribe you at your funeral?(Q34)What do you think about the differentaspects of your life? (Q35)

Perseverance How would you describe someonewho grew up faced with difficultcircumstances yet managed toachieve success despite challenges?(Q21)Can you tell me of a time when youdemonstrated determinTell me a story about a child whoachieved success despite challengesthat he had to face. (Q40)Tell me a story of how you were ableto overcome challenges in yourpersonal life, family life or in yourcommunity. (Q41)What were the personal characteristics that helped you toovercome challenges in your life?How do you feel when others aroundyou experience success? (Q29)Do you feel equal to other people?(Q10a)Are there people with whom you donot feel equal? (Q10b)How do they make you feel? (Q10c)What do they do to make you feelthis way? (Q10d)

Would you describe yourself as anoptimist or a pessimist? (Q31)What role does humour play in yourlife? (Q 39)

FutureOrientation

Do you have personal goals anddreams that you should like torealize? (Q36a)What are they? (Q36b)What is your definition of success?(Q28)

Support:Having andusingsupportiverelationshipsacrosscontexts

How accepting is your communitytowards teenagers' problembehaviour(s)? (Q8a)Provide examples of such behavioursand how the communityreacted.(Q8b)What is your opinion of thereactions? (Q8c)Do you belong to any communityorganizations? (Q9a)What values do these organizationsstand for? (Q13)Can you describe how your caregivers/parents looked after you?(Q12)Who believed in and supported youthe most during a difficult time in yourlife? (Q43)What expectations do yourparents/care-givers have of you?(Q13)Can you describe the nature of therelationship that you have with yourparents/care-givers? (Q14)Do you and your parents/care-giversparticipate in any leisure activitiestogether? (Q15)Can you tell me more about these?(Q15b)How does your family communicate?( Q16a)How do you know what they think ofyou? (Q16b)How does your family monitor you inorder to know where you are andwhat you are doing? (Q17)

How do you know how to behave incertain social situations and withcertain people? (Q18a)How well do you do in socialsituations? (Q18b)Are you popular? (Q18c)Do others think good things aboutyou? (Q18d)Has this changed over time? (Q18e)How easily do you find it tocommunicate with others of all ages?(Q19)Do you have any other meaningfulrelationships with people at school, athome or in the community? (Q22)Can you tell me about a person inyour life who has "been there" for youduring challenging times in your life?(Q 23a)Why was this person important toyou? (Q23b)What did they mean to you? (Q23c)What are your feelings towards yourschool? (Q32a)Can you tell me about your feelingsof belonging at school? (Q32b)Can you describe any feelings ofloyalty or pride that you may feel as alearner of this school? (Q32c)How dependent are you on thosearound you for emotional survival?(Q37)

1. What are the most important things that have happen in your life?

2. Who are the important people in your life?

3. What do you like about your life?

4. Are there things that have happened in your life?

5. Have you same plans for the future?

6. What advice would you give to other young people about life?

7. What are the consequences of the risk factor for children?

8. What are the etiologies and condition of risk

9. Are there any children who seem to cope with the risk factor successfully and what are some of

the protective factors?

10. What are strategies could be developed to help support these children based on these protective

factors?

11. How do you describe people who grow up well here despite the many problems they face?

12. What does it mean to you, to your family and to your community when bad things happen?

13. What kinds of things are most challenging for you growing up here?

14. What do you do when you face difficulties in your life?

15. What does being healthy mean to you and others in your family and community?

Support Functions

1. Are there people you confide in about things that are important?

2. Are there people who reassure you when you’re not sure about something?

3. Are there people who make you feel respected?

4. Are there people who you talk to when you are upset, nervous, depressed

5. Are there people whom you turn to for advice about major decision in your life?

6. Are there people who would loan you money if you needed it?

7. Are there people who would help you to care for your child on a regular basis?

8. Are there people to whom you turn to for advice about your child?

9. Are there people who tell you how to bring up your child, even though you may not ask for their advice?

10. Are there people who tell you how someone your age is “supposed” to act?

Satisfaction with support

1. Do you wish you had more people in your network?

2. Do you wish you had more people on whom you could depend on?

3. Do you wish you had more people you could talk to or confide in?

4. Do you wish you had more people who understood you?

5. Do you wish you had more people you could get advice from?

6. Do you wish you had more people who could help out with your child?

7. Do you wish fewer people would tell you how you’re supposed to behave?