Exploring protective strengths and well-being among Quebec Francophone youth: An application of the resilience portfolio model.

Résumé

OBJECTIVES: Few studies have examined protective strengths that promote adaptation among youth exposed to victimization and adversity. The resilience portfolio model (S. Hamby, Grych, & Banyard, 2018) proposes that assets across regulatory, interpersonal, and meaning-making domains foster adaptation following adversity. While primarily studied in U.S. adult populations, this study applied the model to examine protective factors linked to subjective well-being, physical well-being, and reduced trauma symptoms among Francophone youth from Quebec.METHOD: Participants ( = 4,122; ages 14-25) completed an online survey including the French version of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire, a measure of adverse life events, and the Resilience Portfolio Model Packet for Youth (S. Hamby, Taylor, et al., 2018). Regression analyses entered age and gender in the first block, victimization and adversity in the second, and polystrength and 16 individual strengths in the third.RESULTS: Most youth reported at least one form of victimization or adversity. Victimization and adverse life events accounted for 6%-12% of the variance in outcomes. Adding strengths increased explained variance, with final models accounting for 59% of the variance in subjective well-being, 34% in trauma symptoms, and 22% in physical well-being. Sense of purpose, recovering positive affect, and mattering were the strongest predictors of thriving.CONCLUSION: Programs should foster strengths across domains to support youth resilience. Investing in strength-based approaches may offer a promising pathway to enhance well-being in vulnerable youth. Emphasizing purpose, positive affect recovery, and mattering may be particularly effective in promoting thriving among those facing adversity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).