The Growth, Resilience, Opportunity, Well-being, Trauma and Health (GROWTH) Lab
Growth is the possibility that something meaningful can emerge from life’s most challenging experiences. Our research explores how children and families develop new strengths, perspectives and opportunities following adversity, acknowledging that growth and distress often co-exist.
Resilience is the ability to adapt, recover and keep moving forward in the face of adversity. Our research explores the individual, family and community factors that help children cope with adversity and maintain healthy development.
Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. Our work examines how social determinants of health, including access to healthcare, education, and community resources create or limit opportunities for healthy development.
Principal Investigator: Renee Gilbert, PhD
Well-being extends beyond the absence of distress and includes emotional, physical, social and behavioral health. We investigate pathways that promote long-term wellness for children and families across diverse life experiences.
Trauma encompasses experiences such as violence, loss, discrimination, serious illness or other events that overwhelm a child’s ability to cope. Not all children face the same levels of adversity, and not all children respond in the same way. Our research seeks to understand the factors that shape children’s responses to trauma and support healing, resilience and growth.
Health is shaped by more than medical care alone. Experiences of adversity can influence emotional, behavioral and physical well-being across development. Our research aims to identify the factors and interventions that promote healthy outcomes for children and families facing increased risk of exposure to stress and trauma.