Resilience, play space and adaptive behaviors among children in homeless shelters : a test of alternative models

In this study, two models of the relationship between resilience, play space, and adaptive behaviors among children in homeless shelters were tested. The analysis design involved a two factor ANOVA examining main and interaction effects of resilience (high vs. low, dichotomized at median of scale distribution) and play space (presence vs. absence). An interaction effect would have supported the hypothesis of the Dynamic Resilience Theory, which stated that in the presence of available play space, no difference between children with more or less resilience resilience was anticipated. In the absence of available play space, it was anticipated that more resilient children would be more at risk for behavior problems than those with less resilience. The Adaptive Resilience theory would have been supported by results showing a main effect of resilience. More resilient children would have been less at risk for behavior problems than less resilient children regardless of the Availability of play space. In both groups, it was anticipated that available play space would result in less risk of behavior problems. No interaction between resilience and play space was hypothesized for this model.

Results indicate both a significant main effect of resilience for the externalizing behavior subscale and a significant interaction effect for internal and overall subscales. Mean profiles for external, internal, and overall subscales were similar, indicating no significant difference between more or less resilient children in shelters with inavailable play space. The mean profiles indicate a significant difference between more or less resilient children in shelters with available play space. The study concludes that both resilience and play space make a significant difference in the risk of child behavior problems. Implications for the nurturing of children with less resilience in social and cognitive development are discussed.