Abstract
Objective: Exposure to diverse forms of interpersonal violence is associated with a wide range of psychological problems in children and adults. However, many people who experience violence do not develop symptoms of psychopathology. Studies of resilience in victims of violence have identified protective factors associated with healthier outcomes but have a number of limitations for understanding how individuals exposed to violence adapt and even thrive. The present article addresses these limitations by introducing a conceptual framework that integrates insights from theory and research on resilience, positive psychology, posttraumatic growth, and stress and coping. Approach: The Resilience Portfolio Model is a strengths-based framework designed to provide a holistic understanding of the protective factors and processes that promote resilience in children and adults exposed to violence. It proposes that the density and diversity of resources and assets available to individuals (their resilience portfolio) shapes their responses to violence, and identifies 3 higher-order functional categories of strengths that are proposed to be particularly salient for resilience: regulatory, interpersonal, and meaning-making strengths. Conclusion: The Resilience Portfolio Model offers new directions for studying resilience in victims of violence and identifies a wider range of strengths and protective factors to address in prevention and intervention efforts.