The Relationship Between Psychological Resilience and Internalized/Externalized Behaviors in Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Anhedonia and Ostracism

Background : Adolescence is a period characterized by numerous variable factors that can significantly impact an individual's development. It is considered that preventive and rehabilitative methods may be insufficient in practice if they are implemented without considering the developmental status of adolescents. In this context, unlike previous studies in the literature, the present research takes a hypothetical and holistic approach to the various situations that adolescents frequently encounter during this period. The general aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of anhedonia and ostracism in the relationship between psychological resilience and internalized/externalized behaviors in adolescents. Methods : The study was designed using a relational survey model. The research was conducted with 501 students from the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades attending five public high schools in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed for advanced statistical analysis, and all analyses were conducted using the LISREL software. Findings :The study revealed that psychological resilience in adolescents negatively and indirectly affects ostracism through anhedonia (β = -0.23, p < .05). Furthermore, psychological resilience was found to negatively and indirectly affect adolescents' externalized (β = -0.05, p < .001) and internalized (β = -0.11, p < .001) behaviors through both anhedonia and ostracism. Additionally, it was determined that anhedonia in adolescents positively and indirectly influences externalized (β = 0.11, p < .05) and internalized (β = 0.22, p < .05) behaviors through ostracism. Results : The findings of the study indicate that psychological resilience in adolescents negatively affects anhedonia, internalized behaviors, and externalized behaviors. Additionally, anhedonic behaviors positively influence ostracism, and ostracism positively affects both internalized and externalized behaviors. Furthermore, the results suggest that psychological resilience indirectly and positively influences ostracism through anhedonia, while it indirectly and negatively affects internalized and externalized behaviors through both anhedonia and ostracism. Based on the findings, it is recommended to implement structured resilience education within school settings. Additionally, the development of targeted educational programs aimed at enhancing adolescents’ psychological resilience may contribute significantly to both individual and societal well-being, thereby playing a preventive role against potential future psychological and social challenges.