Vulnerability and resilience of virtual adolescents in emergencies: a biopsychosocial model across executive functions and sense of community

Abstract

This study explores the determinants of adaptive behavior during collective emergencies within a sample of 512 young participants (aged 15-25). Adopting a bio-psycho-social interpretative framework, the research examines the interaction between three levels: the bio-psychological (executive functions measured via BRIEF-2), the emotional-regulative (emotion regulation difficulties via DERS), and the socio-pedagogical (sense of community via SCI-2). Findings indicate that youth vulnerability-conceptualized as a fragility in self-regulation processes-is significantly correlated with immature inhibition and planning processes (r = - 0.71), particularly in the 15-17 age group (GEC=60.6). However, regression and path analyses (Tab.16)   reveal that a sense of community belonging acts as a powerful mediator, mitigating the impact of emotional dysregulation and fostering solidarity and cooperative behaviors (Odds Ratio 2.45). The conclusions highlight the need for Special Education interventions that move beyond individual cognitive enhancement toward building resilient educational environments capable of transforming atomistic vulnerability into active participation and social co-responsibility.