A Rapid Scoping Review of Resilience Facilitators and Barriers among Black Children and Young People in Canada
- 1Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- 2Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Despite pervasive structural and systemic adversities, Black children and youth in Canada demonstrate significant resilience. However, mainstream discourse often privileges deficit-based narratives, marginalizing these strengths. This rapid scoping review identifies and synthesizes the breadth and depth of available evidence on resilience among Black young people in Canada to counter these stereotypes and inform culturally responsive interventions.
Methods: This rapid scoping review utilized four electronic databases, ProQuest (gray literature), and a supplemental Google Scholar search. Two independent reviewers performed screening and data extraction. Findings were synthesized using descriptive statistics and narrative description.
Results: A total of 24 reports, including 23 peer-reviewed articles, and one thesis met the inclusion criteria. Our findings reveal: (a) geographic (Ontario-centric) and methodological imbalances; (b) that most studies contextualized resilience around intersecting structural and systemic adversities, including anti-Black racism in schools, socioeconomic hardship, and mental health barriers; (c) that research primarily explored resilience capacities and processes, with less attention given to outcomes; (d) that resilience was supported by a dynamic combination of individual, relational, and community-level factors; and (e) that barriers to resilience spanned systemic, interpersonal, and individual levels, with racial discrimination and structural racism acting as pervasive obstacles.
Conclusions: Resilience among Black youth is a dynamic process of resistance to structural racism, not just a personal trait. While matrifocal networks and spirituality are powerful facilitators, they are frequently hindered by systemic exclusion in education and healthcare. Future efforts must prioritize structural reforms and relational nursing care.
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BibTeX
@article{marfo2026rapid,
title = {{A Rapid Scoping Review of Resilience Facilitators and Barriers among Black Children and Young People in Canada}},
author = {Emmanuel A. Marfo and Albert Junior Frimpong and Haris Musavar and Bukola Salami},
journal = {The Canadian Journal of Nursing Research},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.1177/08445621261451565},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/08445621261451565},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A Rapid Scoping Review of Resilience Facilitators and Barriers among Black Children and Young People in Canada
AU - Emmanuel A. Marfo
AU - Albert Junior Frimpong
AU - Haris Musavar
AU - Bukola Salami
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/14
JO - The Canadian Journal of Nursing Research
DO - 10.1177/08445621261451565
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/08445621261451565
AB - Background and Purpose: Despite pervasive structural and systemic adversities, Black children and youth in Canada demonstrate significant resilience. However, mainstream discourse often privileges deficit-based narratives, marginalizing these strengths. This rapid scoping review identifies and synthesizes the breadth and depth of available evidence on resilience among Black young people in Canada to counter these stereotypes and inform culturally responsive interventions. Methods: This rapid scoping review utilized four electronic databases, ProQuest (gray literature), and a supplemental Google Scholar search. Two independent reviewers performed screening and data extraction. Findings were synthesized using descriptive statistics and narrative description. Results: A total of 24 reports, including 23 peer-reviewed articles, and one thesis met the inclusion criteria. Our findings reveal: (a) geographic (Ontario-centric) and methodological imbalances; (b) that most studies contextualized resilience around intersecting structural and systemic adversities, including anti-Black racism in schools, socioeconomic hardship, and mental health barriers; (c) that research primarily explored resilience capacities and processes, with less attention given to outcomes; (d) that resilience was supported by a dynamic combination of individual, relational, and community-level factors; and (e) that barriers to resilience spanned systemic, interpersonal, and individual levels, with racial discrimination and structural racism acting as pervasive obstacles. Conclusions: Resilience among Black youth is a dynamic process of resistance to structural racism, not just a personal trait. While matrifocal networks and spirituality are powerful facilitators, they are frequently hindered by systemic exclusion in education and healthcare. Future efforts must prioritize structural reforms and relational nursing care.
SN - 0844-5621
SN - 1705-7051
ER -