The Social Ecology of Resilience: A Comparison of Chinese and Western Researches

Abstract Purpose of study: Resilience is a positive developmental phenomenon of regaining psychological balance under adversity. This article explores the differences on theoretical model of resilience and its social ecology influence in western and Chinese culture. Methods Reviewing recent researches on resilience, studied 17 English and 11 Chinese critical articles through literature analysis. Results Western studies on resilience have been consisted by individual characteristic, or external protective factors, and then the co-existence of the two. Now the models emphasize their interactions and ecology influence including four levels, microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem and macrosystem. Chinese literatures emphasize external protective factors in the formation of resilience, specifically individual interactions with microsystem which show significant effects and the mesosystem interactions. Conclusions The theoretical model of resilience has a consensus in both Western and Chinese culture, and there are significant differences on its social ecology influence. Recommendations: Resilience can be better understood when we explore further on the interaction mechanisms between individual characteristics and protective factors.