THURS-018 - Risk and Protective Factors of Early Adolescent Girls Facing Chronic Adversity in Latin America
Thursday, April 23, 2026
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM PST
Location: Plaza Foyer, Plaza Level
Area of Responsibility: Area V: Advocacy Keywords: Child and Adolescent Health@@@Empowerment@@@Evidence-Based Practice, Subcompetencies: 5.1.2 Examine evidence-informed findings related to identified health issues and desired changes., 4.4.5 Identify implications for practice. Research or Practice: Research
Instructional Assistant Professor Texas A&M University College Station, Texas, United States
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Apply evidence-based insights to advocate for policies that strengthen girls’ social-emotional growth.
Integrate theoretical and practical perspectives to improve program design and community health interventions.
Present strategies for supporting women in political leadership in Latin America
Brief Abstract Summary: Discover how micro- and macro-level factors shape the social self-efficacy of low-income adolescent girls in Latin America. This presentation highlights findings from a multi-country study of girls ages 8–13, guided by Social Cognitive Theory. Learn how father-daughter closeness and peer relationships significantly predict girls’ ability to resist coercion, assert opinions, and form healthy connections, while women’s political leadership emerges as a powerful macro-level factor linked to higher social self-efficacy. Gain insights into how supportive relationships at home and visible female leaders in society work together to build resilience in contexts of poverty, violence, and inequality. This presentation articulates the reciprocal relationship between research, practice, and policy aimed at breaking cycles of adversity by fostering protective assets that equip girls to thrive in challenging environments.
Detailed abstract description: In this session participants will connect research with practice-ready solutions, preparing them to design, implement, or advocate for initiatives that empower low-income girls in Latin America. They will gain new insights into how relationships at both the family and societal level influence the healthy development of girls in contexts of chronic adversity. This presentation equips attendees with a deeper understanding of the protective role of social self-efficacy—the ability to resist coercion, assert opinions, and form positive relationships—in breaking cycles of poverty and disadvantage faced by low-income girls in the region. Findings from a multi-country study of 202 girls in Latin America will be presented. Attendees will see how father-daughter closeness, peer relationships, and women’s political leadership predict girls’ social self-efficacy, a key protective factor against adversity. More importantly, participants will discover practical ways to translate these results into action—strengthening family engagement, designing youth programs that build peer connectedness, and advocating for policies that support women in political leadership. Attendees will walk away with: • Evidence-based knowledge of risk and protective factors for girls’ social self-efficacy in low-income contexts. • A framework for applying Social Cognitive Theory to multi-level interventions. • Practical ideas for strengthening youth programs through parental engagement and leadership visibility. • Insight into the framework through which women in political leadership support healthy outcomes for girls facing chronic adversity.
