The research presented in this book has focused on academic resilience in the face of socio-economic adversity, spanning the transition from dependent child to independent adult in two birth cohorts born twelve years apart. Comparing adjustment patterns of the two cohorts over time made it possible to investigate the long-term influence of socio-economic adversity on individual adjustment as well as the context dependency of resilient adaptations. In the following a critical appraisal of the main themes running through the findings is provided, delineating conceptual and methodological issues, and outlining directions for future research.

The findings indicate persistence of deprivation and social inequality in our society despite general economic growth. There is a great deal of common structure and most of the linkages between adversity and adjustment apply in both cohorts and for men and women (see also (Hobcraft et al., 2004). Even though overall participation in further and higher education has expanded, social inequality of educational opportunity has remained. While the overall level of qualifications has increased, young people with good academic ability from disadvantaged family backgrounds are losing out against their more privileged peers. Cycles of disadvantage exist, yet they do not inevitably occur and some individuals demonstrate positive adaptation in the face of adversity.