Resilience in Cambodia

According to Luthar, Cicchetti, and Becker (2000), “resilience refers to a dynamic process encompassing positive adaptation within the context of significant adversity” (p. 543). Trauma survivors, from various backgrounds and cultures, have important stories to share. Young women from Cambodia have endured complex trauma issues, not only originating from the Khmer Rouge aftermath but also from the devastating effects of human trafficking. This study explored factors contributing to the resilience of 24 young female residents, ages 14 to 22, through a mixed-methods design. Qualitative constructs of resilience were gathered through interviews with helping professionals and observations of the girls’ participation in a program for survivors of human trafficking. This study contributes to the limited research on resilience in non-Western communities by examining the ways in which trafficked victims counter and re-build from the effects of trauma.