From resilient girls to (more) resilient women: A mixed-methods study examining narratives of resilience among South African young women

Adolescence and emerging adulthood are times of heightened adversity for South African girls and young women due to structural disadvantage. In this mixed-methods study, we explored lived experiences of resilience among a sample of 377 South African girls and young women (15-24 years) who completed a quantitative cross-sectional survey that included a validated measure of resilience. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics and an independent sample t-test to assess differences in resilience. These analyses informed the development of a semi-structured qualitative interview agenda. A purposive sample of 21 South African girls and young women (15-24 years) from the same survey area participated in in-depth interviews. Interviews were analyzed for perceptions of difference in resilience by age and narratives of resilience during transitions to adulthood. Survey results indicated younger participants (15-17 years) perceived themselves to be less resilient than older participants (18-24 years). Qualitative interview results supported the survey results, and pointed to a broader difference in perceived resilience between younger women and older women. Programming and policy implications for future resilience research among this population are discussed.