RESOURCES OF YOUTH RESILIENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL UNCERTAINTY: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

Irina Caunenco; Lucia Gașper

doi:10.36004/nier.es.2025.2-09

Authors

Irina Caunenco PhD in psychology, associate professor, Free International University of Moldova https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3458-7121
Lucia Gașper PhD in psychology, coordinating scientific researcher, Institute for Legal, Political, and Sociological Research Moldova State University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5794-8386

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36004/nier.es.2025.2-09

Keywords:

self-stereotype, self-image, ideal, resilience, uncertainty, socio-psychological resources, identity

Abstract

This article examines the psychological resilience of adolescents and young adults in Moldova within a multicultural social context. The study draws on empirical data from 160 university students aged 19–25, representing diverse ethnic backgrounds, and from 50 adolescents aged 16–18 enrolled in a vocational–technical institution. The research is grounded in contemporary approaches to resilience as a multidimensional construct shaped by personal, social, and cultural resources. Particular attention is given to the role of ethnic identity, shared cultural representations, and social competencies as potential protective factors that support young people’s adaptation to socio-economic uncertainty. The study explores how resilience is structured across developmental stages and how internal and external resources contribute to young people’s coping strategies, emotional regulation, and social interaction. Methodologically, the research integrates quantitative assessments of resilience components with analyses of culturally embedded perceptions and stereotypes. The article’s scientific contribution lies in advancing a culturally sensitive perspective on youth resilience by conceptualising it as a dynamic system shaped by developmental context and ethnic diversity. The study provides an integrative framework for understanding resilience among Eastern European youth and offers a basis for designing preventive educational and psychosocial programs to strengthen adaptive resources in multicultural environments.

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