Shaw, RJ; (2008) Resilience in the face of unemployment: developmental trajectories of protective resources. Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

Aim: The aim of the thesis was to identify how resources, developed in childhood, could help overcome adversity in adult life.;Methods: The analysed data came from the National Child Development Study. Resources were indicated by externalizing and internalizing symptoms, reading, mathematics and BMI. Operationalization of the resources was conducted using data measured at a single time point and group based developmental trajectories identified by mixture models. Associations between the developmental trajectories and birthweight, preterm birth and parental social class were tested in order to identify the trajectories' origins at birth. A source of adversity was indicated by unemployment. Logistic regression was used to test if the resources could protect people from experiencing unemployment. Statistical interactions between unemployment and resources in the prediction of health consequences were used to test for resilience to the consequences of experienced unemployment. Health consequences were assessed by self rated health, limiting longstanding illness, Malaise, GHQ and weight change.;Results and conclusions: For both genders, group based developmental trajectories provided a reasonable summary of the data for externalizing symptoms, reading and mathematical ability and BMI. Parental social class was associated with all the disadvantaged developmental trajectories. Low birthweight and preterm birth were associated with disadvantaged emotional and cognitive development, and high birthweight was associated with trajectories that contained individuals who had a high BMI throughout childhood but did not develop adult obesity. For women, the associations between unemployment and health consequences were limited. The only indicator of (lack of) resources associated with unemployment was internalizing symptoms. For men, unemployment represented a challenge to health, all the resources protected men from experiencing unemployment, and reading skills and internalizing symptoms indicated resilience to the health consequences of unemployment. The theoretical and methodological issues raised by the use of developmental trajectories and traditional methods are discussed.

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