Resilience Theory Research Articles

Enhancing the Resilience of Bereaved Parents: Practical Experiences and Needs Perceived by Healthcare Professionals.

To explore the practical experiences and perceived needs of healthcare professionals in fostering resilience among bereaved parents. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Twenty-seven healthcare professionals were recruited from the Paediatric Palliative Care Special Group of the Paediatrics Society of the Chinese Medical Association. The participants included 9 physicians, 7 nurses and 11 social workers from 22 hospitals and 5 community-based services. In-depth interviews were conducted between July and December 2022. Data were analysed using content analysis. Guided by the Society-to-Cells Resilience Theory, this study identified 10 categories of practical experiences and seven of perceived needs, encompassing multiple levels: society (integrating multidisciplinary resource; preserving relevant cultural tradition; advocating for system enhancements; raising public awareness), community (establishing an accessible support network; fostering an inclusive community; offering proactive community support), family (providing anticipatory guidance; enhancing family cohesion; navigating bereavement resources; providing ongoing follow-up and support), individual (evaluating grief-related experiences; offering tailored personal support; sustaining connections; addressing spiritual needs) and physiological (managing body reactions; maintaining physical well-being). This study provides insights from healthcare professionals, highlighting practices and identifying significant gaps in current approaches to building resilience in bereaved parents. The findings suggest that resilience is a socially constructed, multidimensional process that can be nurtured through a holistic approach to better support this vulnerable group. The study's findings lay the foundation for developing targeted interventions to foster resilience among bereaved parents. A holistic, empowering approach is essential to strengthen their coping mechanisms and facilitate healing at multiple levels, ultimately contributing to the creation of a robust, effective support system for this resilient yet vulnerable population. This study was about the experiences and perceptions of healthcare providers. It was designed and conducted by researchers who were both researchers and healthcare providers.

Resilience through adversity: a case of informal artisan entrepreneurs in Kenya

PurposeThe study aims to understand how informal artisan entrepreneurs demonstrate resilience while experiencing adversity. To achieve this, it explores how artisans handle adversities and how this differs from other informal entrepreneurs.Design/methodology/approachThe study engaged with entrepreneurial theories of resilience. It incorporated 46 qualitative telephone interviews with 32 artisans in the informal tourism industry of Kenya, conducted over two phases and analysed using thematic analysis. Notably, it draws key methodological considerations for conducting remote qualitative data collection and engaging with participants operating in an informal setting.FindingsThe findings suggest that informal artisans exhibit individual attributes and behaviours that are associated with resilience in entrepreneurship. Beyond these, their resilience is also influenced by cultural norms related to resourcing their business and culturally derived tacit knowledge.Originality/valueThe paper extends the understanding of resilience among informal artisan entrepreneurs, who display different characteristics due to the nature of their entrepreneurial activities. It shows that beyond the individualistic view of resilience, culture also influences resilience through social norms and values that govern behaviours. Furthermore, culture reinforces resilience as it is rooted in tacit knowledge held by artisan entrepreneurs. The paper thus contributes to resilience theory in entrepreneurship and to the unique context of artisanry.

Navigating (Dis)empowerment: Dialectical Tensions in the Enactment of Resilience of College Students with Eating Disorders

ABSTRACT Research has shown a dramatic increase of eating disorders (EDs) among young people during disruptive times. Understanding the role of communication in impeding or enacting resilience not only helps those with EDs develop better strategies for coping and changing their lives but can also inform effective interventions at familial, community, and system levels. Guided by the communication theory of resilience (CTR), our study explores how college students with EDs enacted resilience through recalled interactions with parents, friends, community members, and health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 13 college students diagnosed or self-identified with EDs revealed that communication intended as interventions or protective measures can be perceived as (dis)empowering, triggering (mal)adaptive resilience. The study contributes to CTR by expanding perspectives on resilience triggers as socially constructed risks aligned with multiple contexts to display how communicatively constructing resilience is complex, dynamic, power-laden, and imbued with dialectical tensions of anticipatory-reactive resilience for self and others.

Resilience agility in tourism and hospitality: Empirical research using 3D modelling

The paper presents an empirical application of the integrative model of resilience knowledge in tourism, the ReKo-Model. This study employs a quantitative method to analyse seven dimensions of resilience, with a specific focus on three areas of measurement: awareness, current implementation, and strategic cooperation. The research included obtaining virtual expert evaluations from 62 managers in the hotel industry in Germany. The interpretation of empirical findings is facilitated through the use of visualization techniques. 3D models allow for cluster and gap-analysis, providing insight into the implementation of ReKo-factors and dimensions of resilience agility. By examining how hotel-managers adapt their behaviour, the research reveals that applying resilience theory in tourism and hospitality can have transformative effects. This helps bridge strategic and expertise gaps for a more comprehensive approach to resilience agility. The research supports using a deductive approach and consolidation strategy to build resilience agility in the tourism and hospitality industry.

A study on the Practical Group work to Enhance the Resilience of "Quasi-Family" Children's Welfare Institutions

Orphans and disabled children are a special group of children, and the welfare of orphans and disabled children is an important part of the social security system. At present, there are mainly institutional care, foster family care, "quasi-family" care, and adoption. Among them, "quasi-family" is an innovative model that recruits loving and responsible parents from the society to form a simulated family to raise orphans and disabled children, which supplements the family support that children lack and allows them to grow up in a warm and loving life and interaction. However, in practice, it is also found that the "quasi-family" parenting model still has problems in family organization model, family belief system, family communication ability, etc. Therefore, using group work methods, guided by family resilience theory, and starting from the perspective of strengths, professional social work services are provided to quasi-family, promoting changes in quasi-family belief system, organization model and communication status, so as to improve the quality of raising orphans and disabled children.

Integrating Traditional Knowledge and Modern Technologies for Renewable Energy Adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa: Advancing Climate Resilience and Carbon Reduction Strategies

This paper explores the potential of reducing carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions in climate-sensitive regions of Sub-Saharan Africa by integrating traditional knowledge with modern renewable energy technologies. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative energy data and qualitative insights from expert interviews and policy reviews, the study analyzes the implementation of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro. Data from global organizations, including the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the World Bank, supports the investigation. The findings highlight renewable energy's transformative potential for emissions reduction, energy security, and economic growth, with solar energy demonstrating exceptional promise for rural electrification. Despite its benefits, adoption is hindered by financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure, and regulatory challenges. The study underscores the need for climate resilience strategies such as energy storage integration and grid upgrades to support reliable access to renewable energy. By linking renewable energy with sustainability and resilience theories, the research emphasizes the role of adaptive infrastructure in fostering economic development and environmental health. Key recommendations include improving financing mechanisms, enacting supportive policy frameworks, strengthening regional partnerships, and prioritizing energy storage and grid modernization. This study provides actionable insights for policymakers, energy stakeholders, and development organizations, emphasizing that overcoming barriers to renewable energy adoption is critical for achieving sustainable energy access, reducing emissions, and aligning with global climate goals.

Role of Social Cash Transfers Among Children in Child-Headed Households: A Case of Jacha Area of Epworth in Harare, Zimbabwe, in the Face of Austerity Era

AbstractCash transfers are some of the social protection systems for reducing risks and vulnerabilities among children in child-headed families. There are limited academic studies that interrogate the role of social cash transfers among children in child-headed households (CHHs) in the Jacha area of Epworth, Harare, Zimbabwe, in the face of austerity era. A qualitative case study design was adopted to have an in-depth and detailed understanding of the lives of children in CHHs. The resilience theory was used to understand and analyse the realities of these children. Research findings suggest that social cash transfer programmes are very crucial in upholding the human rights of the children in child-headed households of the Jacha area in Epworth, Harare. As a result of social cash transfer programmes, some children in child-headed households enhanced their resilience in many ways. Some of them were rescued from the incidences of abuse, violence, and exploitation through cash transfers. The children in child-headed households were able to meet their basic needs such as food, education, health, clothes, having time for playing, and peer interactions. The article concludes by lobbying and advocating for more social protection programmes towards children in child-headed households in urban informal settlements of Epworth, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Regulating Land in Rural Africa: An Institutional, Vulnerability Perspective

Abstract Recent scholarship has focused on socio-economic trends concerning rural degradation, urbanisation and the sustainable use of natural resources. This article draws on these studies to focus on rural Africa, its projected poverty levels, and the institutional role in relation to these estimates. It uses vulnerability theory, progressive property theory and resilient property theory to reframe rural property as an asset of resilience for both communities and the state, arguing that property is being institutionalized across rural Africa to serve political interests, backed by global demands, at the cost of local communities, and their resiliency needs.

Recent Research Advances and Challenges in Supply Chain Resilience Management

This paper explores recent research advances and challenges in supply chain resilience management, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of current supply chain resilience theory and practice. Firstly, this paper defines the core concepts of supply chain resilience management and describes related theories, including supply chain risk management theory, dynamic capability theory and complexity theory. Next, the paper discusses in detail the latest research progress in supply chain resilience management, analysing it from strategic perspectives, technical support and digital development, enterprise case studies, and indicator systems. Supply chain vulnerability, complexity and uncertainty brought about by globalisation, challenges brought about by technological development and problems in business management are explored. In response to these challenges, the paper proposes future research directions, including dynamic capability enhancement, application of artificial intelligence and machine learning, integrated risk management, cross-industry comparative studies, and sustainable development. Ultimately, the paper summarises the key findings and proposes strategies to address them, such as risk assessment, information transparency, supplier optimisation, inventory management and technological innovation. Through these measures, companies can improve the resilience of their supply chains, ensure that they maintain stable operations in complex and uncertain environments, and achieve long-term competitive advantage.

An enhanced dynamic-network-based framework for quantifying and enhancing the resilience of disaster response networks to old communities under rainstorm waterlogging

Developing effective disaster response networks (DRNs) is crucial for mitigating the impacts of rainstorm waterlogging in old communities. Aiming at providing implementable strategies for enhancing DRN resilience, this paper developed an enhanced dynamic network analysis (DNA)-based framework for DRNs utilizing the DNA and CRITIC-VIKOR method. This framework conceptualizes community disaster response as a three-stage ‘agent-information-resource-task’ (A-I-R-T) dynamic network, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of interactions among stakeholders, disaster information, emergency resources, and response tasks. Subsequently, a hybrid evaluation model combining CRITIC and VIKOR methods was established to quantify DRN resilience by assessing deviations from ideal response scenarios. Validated through a case study of the Y community in Xuzhou city of China, the findings reveal significant variations in stakeholder communication effectiveness across different stages of disaster response, with resilience peaking during the function recovery stage at 0.292. This study not only contributes to the body of knowledge in disaster management and resilience theory but also provides actionable strategies for enhancing DRN resilience, thereby contributing to more resilient urban environments.

Investigating the resilience and challenges of informal street traders in South Africa's tourism sector: a focus on migrant entrepreneurship

ABSTRACT Selling products and services to tourists is often the main or sole source of income for local and migrant informal traders participating in the tourism sector in developing countries. However, they are vulnerable to exogenous shocks, with the COVID-19 pandemic a recent example. During COVID-19, international travel and domestic movement bans affected the livelihoods of many local and migrant informal traders, with the absence of government support exacerbating the plight of migrant traders in particular. This study provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by informal traders in three of South Africa’s main tourist cities against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a concurrent mixed-methods approach, the study explores how migrant and non-migrant entrepreneurs navigated the crisis. This research not only highlights the critical role of resilience and other survival strategies for especially migrant traders but also offers practical implications for the recognition of their resilience and the contribution of both local and migrant traders to job creation withing the realms of the informal tourism sector. This study extends resilience theory by applying it within the socio-economic context of the tourism sector of an important migration destination on the African continent.

Organization learning and business resilience in developing hospitality industry

The study aims to investigate the effect of organizational learning on business resilience in developing the hospitality industry, specifically focusing on four-star hotels in the southeast region of Nigeria. One of the major reasons why this research was conducted is because of the vacuum that exists between organizational learning and business resilience in the hospitality industry. A cross-sectional survey design was employed because it supports using questionnaires to collect data from participants. A validated and reliable instrument was used to collect data from two hundred thirty one participants drawn from the selected hospitality industry in the southern part of Nigeria. The results demonstrate that organizational learning significantly positively affects business resilience. Organizational learning also affects crisis anticipation and recoverability which are crucial to be resilient in the industry. The results of this research supported prior empirical findings and supported both social learning theory and resilience theory. Regarding originality, the geographical scope and the industry where this research was conducted distinguish it from other prior empirical investigations. It was recommended that since the hospitality business is highly competitive, managers should utilize organizational learning as a strategy to overcome their competitors and remain sustainable in the industry. The findings of the research will contribute to the literature and hospitality industry in developing country contexts.

Communicated Resilience in Mothers’ Narratives about the Diagnosis and Birth of Their Child with Down Syndrome

ABSTRACT Down syndrome (DS) is the most prevalent chromosomal condition, affecting one in every 733 babies born annually in the United States . Grounded in the communication theory of resilience (CTR;), the present analysis was conducted to evaluate mothers’ communicated resilience in narratives about the birth and diagnosis of their child with DS. In so doing, we sought to refine the theory by clarifying the conceptualization of CTR resilience processes (i.e. putting alternative logics to work, foregrounding productive action, maintaining and using communication networks, crafting normalcy, and affirming identity anchors). Qualitative analyses revealed all five CTR resilience processes along with novel nuances that expand existing perspectives and refine CTR concepts. Our findings suggest that foregrounding productive action should be analyzed separately from backgrounding negative feelings, and we revisit crafting normalcy with respect to disability. Opportunities for practical application to support families are provided.

Adversity and Resiliency: Athlete Experiences within U.S. College Sport

Research regarding the benefits and detriments of the U.S. collegiate sport governance structure are mixed. Guided by Richardson’s Resiliency Theory (2002), former athletes (n = 215) revealed specific themes of adversity experienced during college with the most prevalent including injury, time demands, and coach-athlete tension. Through interview, athletes noted adversity promoted their resiliency, facilitated grit/perseverance, enhanced teamwork and time management skills, and led to other forms of growth. This study extends our understanding of the long-term impacts of competitive sport participation in this context. This understanding is important for administrators seeking to maximize participant experiences and emulate, enhance, or reform the U.S. College Sport governance model.

Building Social Justice-oriented Resilience for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education: Propositions from Hong Kong

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) rhetoric and initiatives are gaining attention in Asian higher education. Yet, these are still underexplored in terms of their potential to bring about cohesive campus climates. As higher education institutions admit students from diverse backgrounds, there is room for examining how DEI might be leveraged to support growing student learning needs, particularly in contexts where cultural diversity is not the norm. Using Hong Kong as an example, this paper probes the genesis of DEI initiatives and sources of deficit thinking in higher education with reference to the experiences of ethnic minority (EM) students. It proposes a conceptualization of resilience theory from a social justice lens to counter deficit thinking and racism, which helps locate DEI initiatives in building culturally inclusive environments.

Research on the evaluation of emergency management capability for urban public health emergencies under the perspective of resilience-a case study of Henan Province, China.

With the rapid development of the economy and society, the likelihood of sudden public health emergencies in urban areas continues to rise. In particular, major infectious diseases that have gained global attention, such as the SARS virus, H1N1 influenza, Ebola outbreak, and COVID-19 pandemic, have presented significant challenges to urban emergency management systems. Evaluating emergency management capability is a fundamental requirement for developing emergency response capacity. To this end, this study combines the theory of resilience with the theory of full-process equilibrium emergency management, selects 31 evaluation indicators from six key aspects: preparedness, forewarning, mitigation, disposal, recovery, and learning. The indicator weights are determined using the AHP-Entropy Weight Method, and a TOPSIS model is constructed to assess the emergency management capability of urban public health emergencies. The model's applicability is validated by examining 18 cities in Henan Province. The findings suggest that Jiaozuo, Hebi, Zhengzhou, and Luohe possess relatively robust emergency management capabilities for sudden public health incidents, whereas Kaifeng, Pingdingshan, and Shangqiu exhibit weaker capabilities.

Assessment of the interaction between digital infrastructure and ecological resilience: Insights from Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration in China

Exploring the interaction between digital infrastructure (DI) and ecological resilience (ER) is essential to understand whether urban development and the ecosystem have formed an integration trend. First, clarifying the interactive and driving mechanism between DI and ER, the evaluation indicator systems for them are constructed based on the core connotation of DI and the theory of evolutionary resilience. Then, using multiple methods such as the interactive coercion and the Markov chain model, the study reveals the spatiotemporal evolution of DI, ER, and their interactive levels in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA)from 2005 to 2021. Furthermore, we employ the optimal parameter-based geographical detector (OPGD) to identify the core driving factors. The results indicate that (1) The comprehensive levels of DI and ER show an upward trend, and both systems have significant spatial heterogeneity. (2) The interactive coercion model verifies a coercive effect and a constraining relationship between DI and ER; notably, the interaction between the two systems is still in its moderate stage. (3) The analysis of driving factors reveals that socioeconomic conditions are the key influencing factors. Additionally, the proportion of cases showing a bi-enhancement type account for 92%, suggesting that the interactive role of the two factors mainly exhibits a multiplier effect. The study provides empirical evidence for solidifying the foundation of digital development, establishing robust ecological safety barriers, and promoting the deep integration of DI and ER, thereby facilitating high-quality regional development.

Building a dynamic adaptational process theory of resilience (ADAPTOR): Stress exposure, reserve capacity, adaptation, and consequence.

A Dynamic Adaptational Process Theory of Resilience (ADAPTOR) incorporates a synchronistic interplay of reserve capacity, adaptation, and consequences in the context of the larger exposome. This conceptualization of resilience centers on the argument that individuals can "build" resilience by drawing upon their various reserve capacities to effectively adapt to challenging contextual factors, and that this process has long-term consequences for health and wellness trajectories. These theoretical arguments were tested using the Notre Dame Study of Health & Well-Being-COVID Study, which is a multitimescale, longitudinal study of data collected from September 2020 through February 2022. We included 444 participants (age range = 26-90, M = 62.23, SD = 14.26), and used hierarchical linear modeling to assess the effects of global perceptions of stress reactivity (reserve capacity), daily affective reactivity (adaptation), as well as negative pandemic exposure (exposome) on trajectories of depression and anxiety (consequences) across the COVID-19 pandemic. Most pertinent to ADAPTOR, an interactive effect indicated that reserve capacity and adaptation may serve compensatory roles for one another in the context of a more stressful exposome, whereas the synchrony between reserve capacity and adaptation may be important in the context of a less stressful exposome. These findings support the ADAPTOR framework, such that reserve capacity, adaptation, the exposome, and their confluence differentially impact various consequences. This ultimately highlights the importance of taking a dynamic, process-oriented, and multifaceted approach to studying resilience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A Concentrated Analysis of the Situation of Flood Control Management: A Review

Floods are happening more often and with greater severity due to socioeconomic development and climate change. Flood control is widely acknowledged as an effective means of reducing the negative effects, and recent research has aimed to develop a more robust and sustainable approach to flood management. A thorough bibliometric examination of terms, keywords, and dates in the flood research field was employed in this work. It provides new insight into the flood research trends, by examining the research frontiers from 2000 to 2021. We conclude that there has been a shift in the focus of flood research from flood management to flood resilience. Flood resilience management offers a more resilient and sustainable plan to deal with flood disasters, while flood risk management offers an adaptation approach by adjusting mitigation measures. The review demonstrates how flood research has progressed from traditional flood management, which provides mitigation strategies, to flood resilience management. Along with reviewing the definition of risk, risk analysis techniques, flood resilience, flood management, and flood risk management, we also provide a thorough introduction of the field of flood research. We come to the conclusion that a preferable strategy for future flood control directions is to incorporate the idea of resilience into the risk management framework. Consequently, employing the theories of risk, resilience, and sustainability, sensible choices and actions made before, during, and after a disaster will successfully minimize the negative effects. Devastating floods brought on by swift urbanization and severe weather patterns have claimed millions of lives and continue to inflict direct economic losses estimated at tens of billions of dollars annually. Furthermore, as extreme precipitation events intensify (Tabari, 2020) and the population at risk of water-related disasters rises (Jongman et al., 2012; Paudel et al., 2014; Tellman et al., 2021), these losses will only rise in the future due to global warming (Bloeschl et al., 2019; CRED and UNISDR, 2020; Hallegatte et al., 2013). Even worse, severe compound flooding from excessive river flow, intense rainfall, and storm surges might arise from the simultaneous occurrence of flash floods, river flooding, urban flooding, and coastal flooding (Ming et al., 2022). Given that the causes of coastal, urban, and river flooding vary, determining the locations most vulnerable to these types of floods is a challenging. While flood risk is known to rise in response to population growth, climate change, and the accumulation of economic assets, it is also known that this risk is dynamic and ever-changing due to changes in underlying surface conditions (Hallegatte et al., 2013; Lai et al., 2020). Thus, it is critical to manage flooding in order to address the rising risk of flooding. Prior studies have demonstrated the pressing need to address flood events (da Silva et al., 2020), and future flood mitigation measures must be developed in order to lessen the negative effects and handle increasingly complicated flood kinds.

Strengthening Social Capital for Entrepreneurship in Building Costal Resilience

Building coastal resilience in the context of rapidly increasing challenges of disturbance factors, e.g., extreme events, human impacts, and sea level rise, is becoming a necessity for coastal communities including policy makers, businesses, and researchers. In this paper, the author shows a design methodology of strengthening social capital for entrepreneurship in building coastal resilience. The methodology is grounded in the theories of social capital and community resilience, docility and entrepreneurship, distributed cognition, and input-process-output model of strategic entrepreneurship. The design is put into action to study the experiences of Louisiana in building coastal resilience responding to environmental disturbances such as Katrina, Deepwater Horizon, and Covid-19. In particular, we study how technological platforms are developed to help scale up entrepreneurship for wetland conservation.