Title: Developing an initial program theory to foster resilience in children and adolescents: A realist evaluation approach
Abstract:
Background: Violence remains a major social and public health challenge in Colombia, severely impacting the physical, emotional, and psychological development of children and adolescents. To address this issue, national and local health authorities have implemented school-based interventions aimed at strengthening resilience. However, public health outcomes from these programs have been inconsistent, largely because they have been evaluated using controlled models that fail to account for the complexity of real-world implementation.
Purpose: To develop an initial program theory explaining how, why, and under what conditions community-based protective networks and experiential workshops contribute to building resilience among children and adolescents.
Methods: Using a realist evaluation framework, the study aims to identify context–mechanism–outcome (CMO) configurations underlying the program. The first phase involves a critical interpretative synthesis of the literature to extract CMO patterns from prior resilience interventions. The second phase includes focus groups with program designers, implementers, and beneficiaries to refine and validate the emerging theoretical model.
Expected Contribution: This theoretical framework will clarify the generative mechanisms that promote resilience in dynamic community contexts. By articulating the initial program theory, the study provides a foundation for subsequent evaluation, replication, and scaling of complex nursing-led interventions aimed at preventing violence and promoting mental health in youth.
