Resilience in adolescence: Gender differences two years after the earthquake of L’Aquila

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of L’Aquila earthquake (Italy) on Resilience and Coping 2 years after the earthquake in a high school sample. Three hundred and twenty-four male and female students exposed to the earthquake and 147 not-exposed have been assessed with the Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ) and the Brief COPE. The two way ANOVAs for gender by exposure level to the distressing event showed statistically significant interactions with males exposed to the earthquake reporting consistently higher READ factor scores. Problem-focused but not emotion-focused coping strategies showed a similar pattern. These findings are compatible with a resilient ‘protective mechanism’ for males.

► Resilience and Coping have been assessed in the aftermath of L’Aquila earthquake (Italy) in an adolescent sample. ► Three hundred and twenty-four exposed and 147 non-exposed high school samples were studied. ► Two years after the earthquake exposed male students reported consistently higher resilience scores. ► These findings are compatible with a resilient ‘protective mechanism’ for males.