Understanding Resilience to Childhood Adversity: A Longitudinal Examination of Predictors, Trajectories and Genetic Factors

Abstract

This doctoral thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into the concept of resilience, particularly in the context of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The research aims to deepen our understanding of resilience as a dynamic developmental process and explore its genetic and environmental underpinnings. The thesis is grounded in a consensus definition of resilience as a positive adaptation within adversity and employs innovative methodologies to quantify and examine resilience trajectories over time. The first study involves validating the residuals approach as a measure of resilience in early life. By regressing adolescent ACEs on psychopathology scores and examining demographic factors, this method demonstrates robust construct and predictive validity. Subsequently, the second study identifies distinct patterns of resilient functioning across the early life course, revealing diverse trajectories ranging from consistent resilience to varying degrees of vulnerability. Multinomial logistic regression is used to examine how resilience factors at the individual, family, and community levels are associated with these trajectories. The third study is an exploration of genetic variants associated with resilience through a comprehensive, interdisciplinary systematic review. The review reveals specific genetic markers that may contribute to general resilience mechanisms, aligning with findings in other domains such as longevity research. This is further investigated in study four, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) which investigates the genetic architecture contributing to resilient trajectories and estimates the common-SNP heritability of resilience. The GWAS approach, combined with longitudinal data, offers novel insights into the molecular basis of resilience. This PhD enhances our understanding of the multifactorial nature of resilience, particularly in response to ACEs. It validates the residuals approach as a measure of resilience, identifies various resilience trajectories, and uncovers potential genetic markers associated with resilience. These findings not only contribute to the theoretical understanding of resilience but also have practical implications for developing targeted interventions and informing public health policies.

Date of Award	1 Aug 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Nicholas Shryane (Supervisor) & Reinmar Hager (Supervisor)