The Journal of Primary Prevention, Vol. 25, No. 3, November 2004 ( C  2004) Zones of Narrative Safety: Promoting Psychosocial Resilience in Young People Saundra Murray Nettles 1 and Michael J. Mason 2,3 This essay discusses the potential of narrative expression as a method of pri- mary prevention to promote psychosocial resilience in young people. Conceptual perspectives from resilience research are examined as rationales for “zones of narrative safety,” defined as sites of expression, listening, and reflection in formal and informal activities structured to be supportive and caring. The role of narra- tive in integrative processes is highlighted, and practical strategies in schools and communities are used to illustrate how narrative formats are applied for the pur- pose of fostering competence in youths. Further study of such strategies is needed for design of effective prevention programs in different contexts. KEY WORDS: narrative; resilience; school-aged youth; integration; competence. Recognizing that increasing numbers of children and adolescents were expe- riencing stresses such as poverty, violence, abuse and divorce, investigators during the past three decades applied considerable effort toward understanding the devel- opment of competence within contexts that pose formidable challenges (Haggerty, Sherrod, Garmezy, & Rutter, 1994; Hauser, 1999; Masten & Coatsworth, 1998; Werner & Smith, 1992). One line of research examined resilience, which can be defined as the individual’s successful adaptation under conditions of risk (Rutter, 1987). A typical strategy is to identify children classified as high-risk due to var- ious stressors (e.g., poverty, parental pathology), assess the extent to which these children exhibit good adjustment despite high stress, and examine characteristics and processes that contribute to good outcomes. For example, Werner and Smith (1992) conducted a longitudinal study of a cohort of children born in 1955 in Kauai. 1 Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia. 2 Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia. 3 Address correspondence to Saundra Murray Nettles, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia 30460; e-mail: snettles@georgiasouthern.edu. 359 0278-095X/04/1100-0359/0 C  2004 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.