Belonging mediates changes to resilience among separated siblings at camp-based reunification intervention

Previous work has established camp-based sibling reunification impacts to youths' resilience and sense of belonging. The current study tested the mediating effects of belonging on pre-test-post test changes to youth resilience. We examined survey data from 2,260 youth who attended one of 16 camp-based reunification programs in the U.S. and Australia. Youth belonging at camp partially mediated pre-test post-test changes to measures of resilience. In a multi-group model, the indirect effects of belonging on youth resilience differed according to youth individual characteristics. Belonging is a resilience promoting mechanism for youth in out-ofhome care.

Automated summary

This study tested the impact of belonging on youth resilience in a camp setting and found that belonging partially mediated the changes in youth resilience from pre-test to post-test.