Investigative Approaches to Resilient Emotion Regulation Neurodevelopment in a South African Birth Cohort

Abstract

Understanding the neurobiology of resilient emotion regulation following adversities is critical for addressing mental health problems globally. However, the functional neurobiology of resilience has rarely been studied in low- and middle-income countries, which comprise 90% of the world’s population and experience more consistent adversities. Here, we describe how we are investigating the neurodevelopment of resilient emotion regulation in adolescents (anticipated N = 525) from a South African birth cohort recruited from a low-income, high-adversity township. Across 2 longitudinal time points (13–14 and 15–16 years), magnetic resonance imaging, behavior, and self-report measures from adolescents and their caregivers are collected. These data are complemented by existing developmental histories (from the prenatal period to 8 years). The culturally adapted measures, protocols, and analytic plans for investigating resilient emotion regulation are presented. By characterizing neurodevelopmental correlates of adolescent resilience from an understudied low- and middle-income country, this research will provide deeper insights into mental health globally.