Resilience In Survivors Research Articles

Resilience and cognitive symptoms in cancer: An exploratory study.

e24079 Background: One of the most common concerns of cancer survivors is cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), which affects an individual’s ability to return to work, school, or other life activities. The etiology of CRCI is poorly understood. Numerous studies have demonstrated a relationship between emotional distress and cognitive dysfunction, though the core psychological construct underlying this relationship has been elusive. Resilience, defined as the ability to function well despite adversity, reflects individual capacity to manage stress and reduce allostatic load. We hypothesized that low resilience contributes to stress-related cognitive symptoms in cancer survivors, and that improvement in resilience through the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (3RP), a psychotherapy group that reduces emotional distress, would reduce cognitive symptoms in cancer survivors. Methods: Consistent with prior protocols, adult cancer survivors participated in the 3RP program, a 9-week resiliency mind-body group treatment led by psychologists and/or psychiatrists. Survivors completed measures of cognitive symptoms (Patient Reported Outcome Measure Information System – Cognitive function; PROMIS-Cog) and resilience (Current Experiences Scale; CES) before and after treatment. Pearson correlations evaluated relationships between resilience and cognition. Results: 46 cancer survivors (mean age = 57, 85% female, 94% White, 4% Asian, 2% Black) completed \ CES and PROMIS-Cog at therapy intake, with 41% of subjects reporting significant cognitive impairment at baseline (defined as scores of < 1.0 SD on PROMIS-Cog). There was a significant correlation between these two scales prior to treatment (r = 0.33; p = 0.025), indicating that subjects with lower resilience reported poorer cognition. Thus far, 13 survivors have completed the 8-week therapy program, with 46% of these patients reporting significant cognitive difficulties. The post-treatment correlation between resilience and cognition was nonsignificant (r = 0.19;p = ns). Treatment effects were operationalized by change scores (follow up – baseline) for CES and PROMIS-Cog. The relationship between CES and PROMIS-Cog change scores was positive but not significant with the small sample size (r = 0.35; p = 0.028). Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that there is a relationship between resilience and cognition in cancer survivors. Improvements in resilience through the 3RP treatment may reduce cognitive symptoms, though further work is needed to determine the significance of this effect.

Book review: Susan L Miller, Journeys: Resilience and Growth for Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse

Book review: Susan L Miller, <i>Journeys: Resilience and Growth for Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse</i>

The Effect of Tidal Model-Based Psychiatric Nursing Approach on the Resilience of Women Survivors of Violence*

This study examined the effect of a psychiatric nursing approach based on the Tidal Model. The outcome variable was resilience in women survivors of violence. The experimental and descriptive study was conducted with a control group and a pretest post-test procedure. The research was carried out with 13 women in the intervention and 14 women in the control group. Resilience Scale for Adults Turkish Version (RSA) was used. Seven one to one sessions were performed with the intervention group. Inter-group comparison of pre- and post-test variation showed significant variations in favor of the intervention group in perception of the future and RSA scale total scores. Consequently the resilience of the intervention group increased, and they had a more positive, target-focused view of the future.

The Effects of Meditation, Race, and Anxiety on Stroke Survivor Resilience

Significant gaps exist in the identification and management of psychological effects of stroke on survivors. Interventions to enhance resilience, the ability to rebound from stress or adversity, could positively impact stroke recovery. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of meditation on resilience of community-dwelling stroke survivors and to identify resilience predictor variables in these survivors. This was a substudy with secondary analysis of existing data from the parent study, MEditatioN for post stroke Depression. The effect of meditation on stroke survivor resilience in the intervention group (n = 20) was evaluated with a paired samples t test, with measures at baseline and immediately after the 4-week intervention. Baseline resilience predictor variables for all stroke survivors (n = 35) were evaluated with univariable analysis and multiple linear regression modeling. The increase in stroke survivor resilience scores from baseline (mean [SD], 3.46 [0.81]) to intervention completion (mean [SD], 3.58 [1.02]) was not statistically significant (t = 0.60, df = 19, P = .56). One-way analysis of variance with Tukey post hoc analysis revealed that baseline resilience was significantly lower (P = .02) for non-Hispanic black participants than for non-Hispanic white participants. Multiple linear regression with resilience as the dependent variable, race as a fixed factor, and trait anxiety as a covariate was significant (F3,33 = 6.32, P = .002) and accounted for nearly 33% of the variance in baseline resilience. The effects of meditation on stroke survivor resilience should be tested in larger clinical trials that would explore the influence of social determinants of health, perceived stress, race-related stress, and anxiety subtypes on resilience.

Exploration of stress management interventions to address psychological stress in stroke survivors: a protocol for a scoping review

IntroductionSeveral studies have shown that stroke survivors report experiencing high and unremitting levels of stress, which can negatively affect brain repair processes and psychological outcomes and thereby compromise recovery. However,...

Meningkatkan resiliensi penyintas pelesual melalui terapi pemaafan

Abstrak. Kehamilan yang tidak diinginkan akibat pelecehan seksual terasa sangat berat bagi wanita sehingga dibutuhkan kemampuan untuk bangkit dari keterpurukan yang disebut resiliensi. Individu yang resilien mampu menghadapi hal yang menekan dalam hidupnya dan berusaha untuk mengatasi tekanan melalui strategi koping, salah satunya dengan melakukan pemaafan. Terapi pemaafan adalah salah satu bentuk intervensi yang dapat meningkatkan resiliensi. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui peningkatan resiliensi pada wanita penyintas pelecehan seksual melalui terapi pemaafan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode eksperimen semu dengan desain reversal A-B. Subjek penelitian adalah 3 orang wanita penyintas pelecehan seksual yang mengalami kehamilan yang tidak diinginkan dengan tingkat resiliensi rendah atau sedang berdasarkan kategorisasi skala CYRM-28. Data dianalisis dengan analisis visual dan analisis nonparametrik Wilcoxon. Hasil analisis visual menunjukkan peningkatan resiliensi, sedangkan hasil analisis nonparametrik menunjukkan perbedaan resiliensi yang tidak signifikan (0,109 &gt; 0,05) antara sebelum dan setelah intervensi diberikan. Meskipun demikian, pengukuran effect size menunjukkan bahwa terapi pemaafan berpengaruh besar (0,926 &gt; 0,8) untuk meningkatkan resiliensi wanita penyintas pelecehan seksual yang mengalami kehamilan yang tidak diinginkan.Kata kunci: kehamilan tidak diinginkan, pelecehan seksual, resiliensi, terapi pemaafanAbstract. An unwanted pregnancy due to sexual abuse feels so heavy for a woman so that it needs the ability to rise from adversity called resilience. Resilient individuals are able to deal with pressures in their lives and try to deal with stress through coping strategies, which is to forgive. Forgiveness therapy is a form of intervention that can increase resilience. The purpose of this study was to determine the increase in resilience in women survivors of sexual abuse who experienced an unwanted pregnancy through forgiveness therapy. This research uses quasi-experimental method with A-B reversal design. Subjects were 3 survivors of sexual abuse who experienced an unwanted pregnancy with low or moderate resilience based on the CYRM-28 scale categorization. Data were analyzed by Wilcoxon visual analysis and nonparametric analysis. The results of visual analysis showed an increase in resilience, while the results of the nonparametric analysis showed a non-significant difference in resilience (0.109&gt; 0.05) between before and after the intervention was given. Even so, measurement of effect size shows that forgiveness therapy has a big effect (0.926&gt; 0.8) to increase the resilience of survivors of sexual abuse who experienced an unwanted pregnancy.Keywords: unwanted pregnancy, sexual abuse, resilience, forgiveness therapy

Strengthening Vicarious Resilience in Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Narrative Approach to Couples Therapy

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is correlated with numerous adverse effects, both intrapersonal and interpersonal. Couples where one or more partners is a CSA survivor often report problems in social/relational adjustment, emotional expressiveness, revictimization, low relationship satisfaction and stability, and sexual dysfunction. Despite the adverse effects of CSA, some individuals with a history of CSA retain typical levels of functioning, and data from studies of resilience in CSA survivors suggest the importance of social and relational support for favorable outcomes. Resilience is not only an individual factor but also a social, ecological process, and research on vicarious resilience in therapist–client relationships suggests that resilience can be transmitted across relationship systems through a combination of witnessing resilience stories and beliefs about the possibility of resilience and its transmission. We suggest that in romantic partnerships (including nonheteronormative configurations) where one or more partners has a history of CSA, narrative couples therapy is well suited to address the systemic impacts of trauma and resilience by facilitating the transmission of each partner’s resilience to the other. Two narrative interventions, mapping and definitional ceremonies, are suggested to facilitate the transmission of resilience within the couple system through the sharing and witnessing of each other’s subjugated resilience narratives, thereby promoting a re-authored preferred identity based on acceptance, strength, and agency rather than shame, avoidance, and interpersonal difficulty.

Effects of gentrification on health status after Hurricane Katrina.

Despite substantial debate about the impacts of gentrification on cities, neighborhoods, and their residents, there is limited evidence to demonstrate the implications of gentrification for health. We examine the impacts of gentrification on several health measures using a unique individual-level longitudinal data set. We employ data from the Resilience in Survivors of Hurricane Katrina (RISK) project, a study of low-income parents, predominantly non-Hispanic Black single mothers, who participated in a New Orleans-based study before and after Hurricane Katrina. After Katrina, all participants were displaced, at least temporarily, from New Orleans, and had little or no control over neighborhood placement immediately following the storm. This near-random displacement after Katrina created a natural experiment. We employ a quasi-experimental intent to treat design to assess the causal effects of gentrification on health in the RISK population. We do not find evidence of significant main effects of being displaced to a gentrified neighborhood on BMI, self-rated health, or psychological distress. The analysis employs a quasi-experimental design and has several additional unique features--homogeneous population, limited selection bias, and longitudinal data collection-- that improve our ability to draw causal conclusions about the relationship between gentrification and health. However, the unique context of displacement by natural disaster may limit the generalizability of our findings to other circumstances or residents experiencing gentrification.

PATHWAYS TO RESILIENCE: TRANSFORMING TRAUMA THROUGH THE POWER OF NETWORKS

Resilience has been examined in various age groups, initially focused on vulnerable children and more recently in enhancement of resilience in various age groups and in response to trauma. Based on studies of resilience in Holocaust survivors and intergenerational engagement to promote resilience in former gang members and isolated older adults, Corley’s 3E model of Experience, Expression and Engagement is discussed in terms of multiple studies and the implications for forming and strengthening networks in communities at risk. This includes initiating creative coalition-building endeavors to address loneliness in residential settings for older adults evolving from a project funded to the Motion Picture and Television Fund in Los Angeles from the AARP Foundation.

Resiliencia como predictora de depresión en mujeres con cáncer de mama

El diagnóstico de cáncer de mama supone, en ocasiones, la vivencia de un acontecimiento traumático que incrementa la vulnerabilidad a padecer trastornos mentales como la depresión. Sin embargo y a pesar del sufrimiento, las mujeres se ven más fortalecidas y resilientes tras la superación de la enfermedad. El propósito de este estudio fue: 1) Explorar los niveles de depresión y resiliencia en mujeres supervivientes de cáncer de mama y sin cáncer, y 2) Analizar la capacidad explicativa y predictiva de la resiliencia sobre la depresión, controlando el efecto del diagnóstico de cáncer y la edad.La muestra estuvo conformada por 110 mujeres (40.9% supervivientes de cáncer de mama,50.9% sin cáncer) cuya media de edad fue 44.27 (DT= 11.79; rango = 25-69). Se administró la Escala de Ansiedad y Depresión Hospitalaria –HADS-57- (Zigmond y Snaith, 1983; adaptación al castellano de Rico, Restrepo y Molina, 2006) y la Escala de Resiliencia (Wagnild y Young, 1993; adaptación al castellano de Novella, 2002). Se realizó un análisis de varianza que reveló como las supervivientes mostraban, de forma estadísticamente significativa, mayores niveles de resiliencia (F [1,108]=9.82; p&lt;.01), no así en depresión (F [1,109]=2.81, p &gt;.05). Un análisis de regresión múltiple por pasos indicó que la resiliencia explicó el 28% de la varianza de la depresión (R2=.28), siendo su capacidad predictiva negativa y estadísticamente significativa (β=-.09). Dicha capacidad explicativa se vio incrementada significativamente en el modelo 2 (R2=.31) por el efecto de haber sido diagnosticada de cáncer. Estos datos aportan apoyo empírico a la necesidad de abordar los problemas que conducen a una depresión en supervivientes de cáncer de mama. El refuerzo de la resiliencia como factor de protección, amortiguará el impacto del cáncer sobre el desarrollo de sintomatología depresiva, facilitando la adaptación y la prevención de trastornos emocionales una vez superada la enfermedad.

Book Review: Journeys: Resilience and Growth for Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse by Susan L. Miller

Book Review: Journeys: Resilience and Growth for Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse by Susan L. Miller

Presence of Meaning in Life Mediates the Relations Between Social Support, Posttraumatic Growth, and Resilience in Young Adult Survivors of a Terror Attack

This study aims to explore the relationship between social support, meaningful life, posttraumatic growth (PTG), and resilience among young adult survivors of a terror attack. A random sample of 392 young adults who survived the Fulani herdsmen attack three years prior to this study was drawn from a community in Southeastern Nigeria. Individuals reported high levels of PTG (M = 68.00; SD = 17.04) and resilience (M = 68.64; SD = 16.77). Social support had a significant positive relationship with PTG and resilience, yet this relationship was fully mediated by a meaningful life. The findings highlight the importance of identifying potential avenues for growth and resilience in survivors of herdsmen attacks and the key roles social support and meaningful life play in promoting PTG and resilience.

Community Resilience: Lesson Learnt from Disaster Survivors in Yogyakarta Province Indonesia

This article describes community resilience in disaster survivors in Yogyakarta Province. Model of community resilience applied in Cangkringan, an affected districts by the Merapi eruption disaster in 2010. The aims of this research are, first, to clarify the definition of community resilience in disaster studies; second, to understand how the community resilience process in affected people, and finally to interpret the disaster as a ‘window of opportunity’ for sustainable trajectories. Participants were drawn from the inhabitants of Cangkringan districts Yogyakarta Province. It illustrates the concept model of ‘community resilience’, which is widely explored from community perspectives. This research also seeks to understand how the community resilience process can be enacted in alternative social practices. It found that number of themes emerged in community resilience integrated model includes partnership and institutional, education and engagement, available resources (personal and culture values, psychological strength), also risk and vulnerability groups in society.

"We Can Be Oppressed but That Does Not Mean We Cannot Fight Oppression": Narratives of Resilience and Advocacy From Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence.

Helping others has been identified as an important component in recovery and resilience for women following intimate partner violence (IPV). However, little is known about the experiences of women who are IPV survivors and who also engage in formal and informal violence against women (VAW) advocacy work, such as supporting IPV survivors in a social work role or volunteering on VAW advocacy committees. Using in-depth semistructured interviews with nine "survivor-advocates" who were part of a larger study on IPV and resilience, this study extends the existing literature to examine the multidirectional relationship between IPV, advocacy work, and resilience using narrative analysis. Three distinct narratives were identified in survivor-advocates' accounts of their experiences of abuse and advocacy work. The working through the abuse narrative focused on using the knowledge and experience from advocacy work that began prior to IPV to critically reflect on the abuse and its meaning for women. The second narrative, helping others, focused on using personal experiences of abuse to help other IPV survivors. The third narrative, personal strength, focused on a personal identity as a lifelong advocate and inner strength and determination as central to resilience. The findings of this study demonstrate the multitude of ways that engaging in advocacy work interacts with abuse experiences and women's recovery and resilience processes. The findings of this study can inform approaches for promoting resilience and recovery for IPV survivors and highlight the importance of cultivating a critical understanding of abuse to support resilience and recovery following IPV.

Social Participation of Burn Survivors and the General Population in Work and Employment: A Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation (LIBRE) Profile Study.

Work integration and retention after burn injury is a key outcome. Little is known about how burn survivors reintegrate into the workplace. This article compares scores on the Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation (LIBRE) Profile, a burn-specific measure of social participation, between burn survivors and general population samples, focusing on the Work and Employment domain. Convenience samples of burn survivors and the U.S. population were obtained. Differences in demographic and clinical characteristics and LIBRE Profile scores were assessed. To examine work and employment, we compared family and friends, social activities, and social interactions scores among working vs nonworking burn survivors. Six hundred and one burn survivors (320 employed) and 2000 U.S. residents (1101 employed) were surveyed. The mean age (P = .06), distributions of sex (P = .35), and Hispanic ethnicity (P = .07) did not differ significantly. Distributions of race (P < .01) and education (P = .01) differed significantly. The burn survivor sample had higher scores, demonstrating higher participation, for work and employment (mean = 49.5, SD = 9.42) than the general sample (mean = 46.94, SD = 8.94; P < .0001), which persisted after adjusting for demographic characteristics. Scores on the three domains administered to all respondents were higher (P < .001) for working than nonworking burn survivors. Distributions indicated higher social participation in the burn survivor sample than the general sample. Possible explanations include sample bias; resilience, posttraumatic growth, or response-shift of survivors; and limitations of using items in the general sample. Working burn survivors scored higher than those not working. Future work can explore factors that mediate higher scores and develop interventions.

Book Review: Journeys: Resilience and growth for survivors of intimate partner abuse

Book Review: Journeys: Resilience and growth for survivors of intimate partner abuse

Resilience in Cancer Patients.

Background: Being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing its treatment are associated with substantial distress that can cause long-lasting negative psychological outcomes. Resilience is an individual’s ability to maintain or restore relatively stable psychological and physical functioning when confronted with stressful life events and adversities. Posttraumatic growth (PTG) can be defined as positive life changes that result from major life crises or stressful events. Objectives: The aims of this study were to 1) investigate which factors can strengthen or weaken resilience and PTG in cancer patients and survivors; 2) explore the relationship between resilience and PTG, and mental health outcomes; and 3) discuss the impact and clinical implications of resilience and PTG on the process of recovery from cancer. Methods: A literature search was conducted, restricted to PubMed from inception until May 2018, utilizing the following key words: cancer, cancer patients, cancer survivors, resilience, posttraumatic growth, coping, social support, and distress. Results: Biological, personal, and most importantly social factors contribute to cancer patients’ resilience and, consequently, to favorable psychological and treatment-related outcomes. PTG is an important phenomenon in the adjustment to cancer. From the literature included in this review, a model of resilience and PTG in cancer patients and survivors was developed. Conclusions: The cancer experience is associated with positive and negative life changes. Resilience and PTG are quantifiable and can be modified through psychological and pharmacological interventions. Promoting resilience and PTG should be a critical component of cancer care.

Re-Examining the Relationship Between Avoidance and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Rape Survivors Enrolled in Self-Defense Training: The Protective Effect of Activities Self-Efficacy

Although many women do not report sexual victimization as motivation for seeking self-defense training, differences in self-efficacy suggest that self-efficacy deficits may influence survivors' desire to seek training. Lower self-efficacy, thought to negatively influence perceived confidence in one's ability to engage in everyday activities, may relate to avoidance of mundane activities and cause exacerbation of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The current study examined a three-way interaction modeling the relationships between history of rape, activities self-efficacy, activities avoidance, and PTSS in a diverse sample of 233 women enrolled in self-defense training. Results suggest that survivors who avoid everyday activities experience increased PTSS, but this effect is mitigated by perceived self-efficacy to engage in these activities. Activities self-efficacy may promote resilience in rape survivors regardless of whether they actually engage in such activities. Training that targets self-efficacy, rather than actual engagement in activities, may be sufficient to reduce PTSS in rape survivors.

Re-Examining the Relationship Between Avoidance and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Rape Survivors Enrolled in Self-Defense Training: The Protective Effect of Activities Self-Efficacy.

Although many women do not report sexual victimization as motivation for seeking self-defense training, differences in self-efficacy suggest that self-efficacy deficits may influence survivors' desire to seek training. Lower self-efficacy, thought to negatively influence perceived confidence in one's ability to engage in everyday activities, may relate to avoidance of mundane activities and cause exacerbation of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The current study examined a three-way interaction modeling the relationships between history of rape, activities self-efficacy, activities avoidance, and PTSS in a diverse sample of 233 women enrolled in self-defense training. Results suggest that survivors who avoid everyday activities experience increased PTSS, but this effect is mitigated by perceived self-efficacy to engage in these activities. Activities self-efficacy may promote resilience in rape survivors regardless of whether they actually engage in such activities. Training that targets self-efficacy, rather than actual engagement in activities, may be sufficient to reduce PTSS in rape survivors.

Clinical and sociodemographic factors that may influence the resilience of women surviving breast cancer: cross-sectional study.

Breast cancer is one of the most common diseases, affecting many thousands of women. Although more than 80% of women survive the experience, very few studies have been conducted to examine the question of resilience among long-term survivors of breast cancer. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical and sociodemographic factors that correlate with greater resilience in women survivors of breast cancer, in the Costa del Sol Health Area (Spain). Accordingly, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, with respect to 59 survivors of breast cancer, who each completed a questionnaire for analysis according to the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). The median resilience score was 77 (interquartile range 70-80). The group of patients who had survived for six or more years since the diagnosis had a higher score for total resilience (90: IR 76-92) than those diagnosed more recently (74: IR 65.7-83.7) (p = 0.012). Regarding the patients' education background, the group with no formal qualifications or only primary studies had a score of 72 (IR 64-84), versus 79 (IR 74-89.7) for the group with higher levels of education (p = 0.016). Of the clinical variables, only the administration of chemotherapy was significantly associated with the score obtained on the CD-RISC scale (p = 0.012). The results obtained in this study lead us to conclude that sociodemographic and clinical factors have a positive impact on the level of resilience among women resident in the Costa del Sol Health Area and who are long-term survivors of breast cancer.