The Effects of Birth Order on Psychological Resilience Among Adolescents Exposed to Domestic Violence

This study was designed to investigate the impact of birth order characteristics on psychological resilience of adolescents exposed to domestic violence. This study predicted that i) younger children will be most resilient to exposure of domestic violence; and ii) older children will take on a parental role, and although able to function well, will not be as resilient. Four participants, recruited from a regional hospital’s behavioral inpatient unit, completed a demographic questionnaire as well as a recorded interview utilizing the Multidimensional Trauma Recovery and Resiliency Interview (Harvey et al., 1994) to assess for psychological resilience. Interviews were transcribed and a resiliency/recovery score was computed using the MTRR-I companion rating scale, Multidimensional Trauma Recovery and Resiliency Scale (Harvey et al., 2000). This study found that there is not one particular birth order that fairs the best or worst in overcoming traumatic events. Rather, all birth order positions have both strengths and weaknesses in domains contributing to resiliency and recovery.