Social Support, Self-Regulation, and Resilience in Two Populations: General-Population Adolescents and Adult Cancer Survivors

Abstract

In this paper we consider how regulation processes may be involved in resilience effects. We posit that social support contributes to the development and/or maintenance of good self-control whereas interpersonal conflict is related to poor regulation. In the context of a dual-process approach to adaptation, we hypothesize that good self-control may contribute to resilience effects, reducing the impact of life stressors on symptomatology and problem behavior. In contrast, persons who are elevated on poor regulation may be prone to vulnerability effects (i.e., greater impact of stressors). We discuss how specific aspects of good self-control and poor regulation may contribute to resilience or vulnerability for adolescents facing normative life stressors and for adults who have survived diagnosis and treatment of cancer. We draw linkages between the two areas and suggest questions for further research on resilience.