The Grotberg’s paradigm of resilience, developed by Dr. Edith Grotberg, is a widely recognized framework for understanding and promoting resilience in children and adolescents.
Grotberg’s model emphasizes the importance of three key factors in fostering resilience: “I Have,” “I Am,” and “I Can.”
- I Have: This component refers to external supports and resources that individuals have access to, including material resources, social support networks, and positive relationships with caring adults. Having supportive relationships, stable living conditions, access to education, and basic needs met provides a foundation for resilience by buffering against adversity and promoting adaptive coping.
- I Am: This component focuses on internal strengths and characteristics that contribute to resilience, including self-esteem, self-efficacy, and a sense of identity and belonging. Individuals with a strong sense of self-worth, self-confidence, and a positive self-concept are better able to navigate challenges, bounce back from setbacks, and persevere in the face of adversity.
- I Can: This component emphasizes the importance of developing adaptive coping skills, problem-solving abilities, and emotion regulation strategies to effectively manage stress and adversity. Building resilience involves learning to cope with challenges, setbacks, and failures in constructive ways, developing a sense of mastery and competence, and believing in one’s ability to overcome obstacles and achieve goals.
Grotberg’s paradigm highlights the interconnectedness of external supports, internal strengths, and adaptive coping skills in promoting resilience across the lifespan. It underscores the importance of fostering resilience at multiple levels, including individual, family, community, and societal levels, through interventions and programs that enhance protective factors and reduce risk factors for adversity.
Grotberg’s model has been widely applied in research, clinical practice, and intervention programs aimed at promoting resilience in children and adolescents facing various forms of adversity, including poverty, trauma, abuse, and social disadvantage. By addressing the “I Have,” “I Am,” and “I Can” components of resilience, interventions can empower individuals to overcome challenges, thrive in the face of adversity, and reach their full potential.