Exploring Identity and Resilience in Marginalized Childhoods

Resilience in childhood, particularly among those at risk of social exclusion, operates as a vital mechanism that combines both individual traits and systemic supports across various layers of society. According to researchers like Masten et al. (2021) and Ungar and Theron (2020), resilience enables children facing adverse circumstances to achieve favorable outcomes despite challenges. It emphasizes the role of early intervention and community support in fostering these resilient traits. By providing robust educational and social structures, vulnerable populations can experience enhanced quality of life and stronger community integration. This emerging body of research invites a deeper examination of how resilience not only acts as a buffer but also actively shapes the identities of these children.

This Research Topic aims to dissect how resilience contributes to identity construction among children who face social exclusion. It seeks to unpack the interplay between individual resilience and the broader systemic factors that facilitate or hinder such development. Recognizing the pivotal role of early support systems for educators and broader learning communities, this Research Topic underscores the potential of these frameworks to significantly improve life prospects and societal integration for at-risk youth. It posits that strengthening these supports can lead to transformative impacts, from personal growth to broader societal advancements.

To further contextualize and deepen our understanding of these dynamics, we welcome submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Self-empowerment and its role in resilience among at-risk children
• Impact and design of early support services in communities
• Community structures and their influence on resilience
• Contributions of resilience to identity formation in childhood
• Systemic versus individual factors in developing resilience
•Innovative practices and interventions to support vulnerable children

The aim is to bridge individual experiences with systemic changes, thereby highlighting strategies that effectively enhance resilience and foster identity development in children at risk of social exclusion.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Identities Constructions, Resilience, Childhood at Risk, Social Exclusion

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.