Building a Foundation for Resiliency from the Inside Out

Abstract

Without question, advances in biophysiological and neurological science have contributed to our understanding of how family interactions may impact physical, emotional, and social well-being. Research across these disciplines has helped to identify sources of risk and protection for children and adults, and has provided an explanatory base for how ecological contexts within families and communities can impact healthy outcomes. This special issue, Biosocial Models of Family Science, brings these advances in neuroscience, biophysiology, and epigenetic research into the framework of their implications for family science, with a focus across areas of family science research, practice, and policy. Taking a life-span developmental approach, this issue presents articles across several key topics in family science. Articles are grouped together in sections with the first article describing an important advance in biophysiological or neurological science and the following article(s) exploring implications of that research as translated to family research, practice, and policy. This format provides readers with clear connections between these areas of research and guidance for how these advances can become tools to advance family researchers' and practitioners' support of family well-being and further understanding of the interactive nature of family systems and biophysiological health.Special Issue ContentEarly AdversitiesIn the introductory article of this special issue, Ha and Granger draw connections between the biophysiology of the stress response system and its impact on children, as well as on family interactions. Building from this foundation, Perry and Conners-Burrow outline steps to support the mental health and long-term outcomes of children facing adversity in early childhood. Skuladottir then describes an applied parent education program focused on supporting parents in early infant care.Child Care ExperiencesThe relation between stress related to poverty and its impact on children's experience of early childcare settings is examined in an article by Berry and Family Life Project investigators. Taking a closer look at the relation between ecological variables, such as socioeconomic level and immigration status, Crosnoe and Ansari review research outlining how early socioeconomic and demographic disparities impact children's transition to school and long-term educational trajectories.Childhood ObesityIn this area of growing concern for children and adults alike, Pervanidou and Chrousos examine biophysiological experiences associated with children's risk of obesity. The accompanying article by Fiese and Bost explores family ecologies as they relate to children's risk of obesity and sources of protective factors within these contexts. …