Analyzing the Impact of Protective Factors on the Resilience of Middle School Students

When discussing risk and protective factors affecting children, the topic of resilience is brought up extensively. One of the programs targeting various factors relating to resilience is the Kaleidoscope Connect Program. Among the seven factors targeted by Kaleidoscope Connect are protective factors, which relate to beliefs, values, and behaviors, such as empathy and self-regulation (identified as yellow phactors), number of supportive adults (identified as red phactors), as well as risk factors such as negative peers or a lack of supervision (identified as blue phactors). The goal of this research project is to assess the efficacy of the Kaleidoscope Connect program with middle school students. The data has been gathered from a longitudinal study conducted with students from Western Montana. I will use and analyze data from self-report rating scales, including the Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents (RSCA) and the Student Support Card. I will examine Student Support Card data (blue and yellow phactors) and compare their RSCA resilience scores with students who are low in yellow resilience “phactors” and high in blue risk “phactors.” In addition, I will also examine the number of supportive adults in their lives (red phactors) and compare this to their RSCA scores. I will utilize the data collected from students who have completed at least two full years in the program. Since the incidence of teen suicide in Montana is very high relative to the national incidence of suicide, it is pivotal to intervene with and support students as early as possible. Kaleidoscope Connect aims to help professionals in the school setting to provide students with key assets of resilience to effectively deal with crises when they occur