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Initiative—when action is resilience

Cynthia A. Lietz and Breanna M. Carpenter Lietz

Chapter 10 in How to Build Resilience in College Students, 2026, pp 104-111 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Initiative, as defined in the typology of resilience, is seeing a problem or need and taking action. Being resilient is not just about how people feel or interpret their circumstances; it also involves their behavior and the choices they make. Self-efficacy is a fundamental part of one's willingness to act, and it can be defined as the belief that one can accomplish a task. When building resilience in college students, action is needed to address problems, implement solutions, and try new ideas. For students to take initiative and be willing to act, they must have a belief in themselves that facilitates the ability to execute their decisions. In this chapter, we discuss the importance of initiative and consider ways for professionals working in colleges and universities to help students set and execute their plans for responding to the stressors and opportunities associated with being in college. The chapter closes with one student's story of resilience that illustrates the important role initiative and self-efficacy served in his process of coping and adaptation.

Keywords: Resilience; College students; Protective factors; Initiative; Self-efficacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035365081
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