Factors and Processes That Facilitate the Development of Academic Resilience: Perspectives from Students in Singapore

Positive psychology focuses on human strengths and virtues, development of resources, and the nature of processes and experiences that promote flourishing. One phenomenon that has captured the attention of the leading advocates of positive psychology is resilience, which pertains to positive adaption in the face of significant adversities and setbacks. This chapter focuses on academic resilience, which is a form of resilience that unfolds within the realm of education. Noting the scant literature that examines academic resilience within Asian cultural contexts, this study aimed to examine the development of students’ academic resilience through semi-structured interviews conducted with 16 students who were drawn from a large sample of Grade Nine students from Singapore schools. Applying thematic analysis on the interview data, three key findings were distilled: (1) goal-directed thinking, goal pursuit and future orientation; (2) framing and tackling failure; and (3) receiving support from significant others. The results of the study provide insights into the factors and mechanisms that shape how “resilient” students manage to deal with academic challenges effectively, and suggest possible ways by which teachers, parents, and peers can help cultivate the academic resilience of students at risk of tracing a trajectory of poor academic outcomes.