Cultivating resilience in adolescent girls who have experienced Trauma:

A systematic literature review

Abstract

This systematic literature review explores the resilience factors for adolescent girls who have experienced trauma. It focuses on their perspectives, to assist counsellors to provide effective support.

Sub-questions are:

- What adaptive coping strategies could counsellors teach or encourage?

- What other resources could counsellors encourage adolescent girls to use?

Ten international peer-reviewed qualitative studies were identified. They were assessed using the modified Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool and the findings were analysed using thematic analysis.

Five themes were identified as appropriate:

- fostering active agency;

- nurturing internal strengths and resources;

- building interpersonal connection; engaging with community; and,
- connecting with their Indigenous culture.

Resulting recommendations for counsellors included fostering adolescent girls’ agency, facilitating conversations regarding future planning, and encouraging young Māori wāhine (women) to connect with their culture. The author identifies a need for further qualitative resilience research in Aotearoa New Zealand with adolescent girls who have experienced trauma.