Graduate Student Research Symposium 2026

This study examines how risk and protective factors experienced during adolescence shape resilience in emerging adulthood among Hawaiʻi public school alumni. Focusing on young adults ages 18–24, the study explores how school, home, and social environments influence identity development, coping strategies, psychological well-being, and perceptions of adult readiness after high school. Grounded in resilience theory and informed by Hawaiʻi’s unique cultural and educational context, the study uses a mixed-methods design to identify patterns in participants’ experiences and to better understand how former students make meaning of both adversity and support. Quantitative data will assess relationships among environmental factors, well-being, and resilience, while qualitative data will provide deeper insight into how participants interpret these experiences in their transition to adulthood. Findings are expected to inform educational policy, student support practices, and future research aimed at strengthening protective systems for diverse youth populations in Hawaiʻi across schools, families, communities, and postsecondary pathways.