Adaptive Stress: When Challenges Help Build Resilience
We often hear that childhood hardships lead to long-term challenges like anxiety or depression. While that can be true, a new study from Yale University suggests a more nuanced picture. Research published on March 5, 2025, found that certain kinds of adversity, specifically low to moderate stress during key developmental stages, may actually promote resilience later in life.
In this study, researchers interviewed 120 adults about the types of adversity they faced across four life stages: early childhood, middle childhood (ages 6 to 12), adolescence, and adulthood. Brain scans were used to observe how participants responded to signals of safety versus signals of threat. Interestingly, the individuals who had experienced low to moderate adversity during middle childhood and adolescence showed lower levels of anxiety in adulthood than those who had faced either very little or very high adversity.
The researchers also found neurological differences between these groups. Participants in the more resilient group showed stronger activity in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain involved in decision-making and emotional regulation, when processing safety cues. They also showed reduced reactivity to threat cues. In simple terms, they were better at identifying when a situation was safe and when it required a stress response, allowing them to remain calm and effective under pressure.
The key takeaway is that not all stress is harmful. In fact, some stress, when paired with supportive relationships and healthy coping mechanisms, may be essential for building emotional resilience. The study does not suggest that trauma or high levels of adversity are beneficial. Instead, it highlights that manageable challenges, supported by healthy environments, can help young people grow stronger.
This insight is reflected in the mission of GRIT-TEEN.
GRIT-TEEN trains adolescents to support their peers by teaching them how to recognize stress, communicate effectively, and build connection. While participants may benefit personally from these skills, the program is designed primarily to prepare teens to be a source of support for others. GRIT-TEEN helps create stronger communities by equipping young people to respond to everyday challenges with empathy, confidence, and leadership.