Resilience Traits Research Articles

Development and validation of the Characteristics of Resilience in Sports Teams Inventory.

This multistudy paper reports the development and initial validation of an inventory for the Characteristics of Resilience in Sports Teams (CREST). In 4 related studies, 1,225 athletes from Belgium and the United Kingdom were sampled. The first study provided content validity for an initial item set. The second study explored the factor structure of the CREST, yielding initial evidence but no conclusive results. In contrast, the third and fourth study provided evidence for a 2-factor measure, reflecting (a) the team’s ability to display resilient characteristics and (b) the vulnerabilities being displayed under pressure. Overall, the CREST was shown to be reliable at the between-players and the between-teams level, as well as over time. Moreover, its concurrent validity was verified by linking the characteristics of team resilience with various relevant team processes. Its discriminant validity was established by comparing the CREST measures with individual athletes’ resilient traits. In conclusion, the CREST was argued to be a usable state-like measure of team-level resilient characteristics and vulnerabilities. To gain further understanding of team resilience as a process, this measurement could be used in future process-oriented research examining adverse events and sports team’s pre- and postadversity functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)

Pseudo resilient supply chains: concept, traits, and practices

Supply chain vulnerability (SCV) and its counterpart supply risk management are increasingly researched in recent years. SCV is often quantifiable and can be effectively monitored if practices are implemented on a systematic basis. It is essentially more important to extend the research in supply chain risk management so as to address certain traits where the companies perform poor or areas where they overlook their performances. Here, we introduce the concept and property, the so-called pseudo resilience in supply chains where supply chains pretend to perform better in its risk management capabilities, but are essentially vulnerable. Pseudo resilience is an incessant nature of many supply chains to overlook concomitant risks. Typical traits of pseudo resilience were identified in this research and a brief analysis of the disruptions and its effects was done. This research is a maiden effort in the direction of addressing the property of pseudo resilience in supply chains. It is imperative for managers to identify the traits of pseudo resilience in their supply chains so as to avoid the ill effects resulting from it. Further quantitative and qualitative researches are recommended for evincing the property of pseudo resilience in supply chains.

Mental resilience, perceived immune functioning, and health.

BackgroundMental resilience can be seen as a trait that enables an individual to recover from stress and to face the next stressor with optimism. People with resilient traits are considered to have a better mental and physical health. However, there are limited data available assessing the relationship between resilient individuals and their perspective of their health and immune status. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the relationship between mental resilience, perceived health, and perceived immune status.MethodsA total of 779 participants recruited at Utrecht University completed a questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics, the brief resilience scale for the assessment of mental resilience, the immune function questionnaire (IFQ), and questions regarding their perceived health and immune status.ResultsWhen correcting for gender, age, height, weight, smoker status, amount of cigarettes smoked per week, alcohol consumption status, amount of drinks consumed per week, drug use, and frequency of past year drug use, mental resilience was significantly correlated with perceived health (r=0.233, p=0.0001), perceived immune functioning (r=0.124, p=0.002), and IFQ score (r=−0.185, p=0.0001).ConclusionA significant, albeit modest, relationship was found between mental resilience and perceived immune functioning and health.

Psychological factors as risk factors for poor hip function after total hip arthroplasty.

Recovery after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is influenced by several psychological aspects, such as depression, anxiety, resilience, and personality traits. We hypothesized that preoperative depression impedes early functional outcome after THA (primary outcome measure). Additional objectives were perioperative changes in the psychological status and their influence on perioperative outcome. This observational study analyzed depression, anxiety, resilience, and personality traits in 50 patients after primary unilateral THA. Hip functionality was measured by means of the Harris Hip Score. Depression, state anxiety, and resilience were evaluated preoperatively as well as 1 and 5 weeks postoperatively. Trait anxiety and personality traits were measured once preoperatively. Patients with low depression and anxiety levels had significantly better outcomes with respect to early hip functionality. Resilience and personality traits did not relate to hip functionality. Depression and state anxiety levels significantly decreased within the 5-week stay in the acute and rehabilitation clinic, whereas resilience remained at the same level. Our study suggests that low depression and anxiety levels are positively related to early functionality after THA. Therefore, perioperative measurements of these factors seem to be useful to provide the best support for patients with risk factors.

Проблемы устойчивого развития инфраструктуры в Центральной Азии

This article is devoted to the 9th goal of the POST 2015 Programme – creation of resilient infrastructure,facilitation of inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. The conditionand development level of transport infrastructure is an essential factor in formation and acceleration ofsustainable development of regions and their effective cooperation. Issues of resilient infrastructure developmentbear peculiar traits in Central Asia region, because they are in need of overcoming geographicisolation, solving the problem of being inaccessible and dependent on countries, which provide them anavenues to world markets. Successful solution of infrastructure issues gives Central Asia states opportunitiesto diversify the resources of state revenues, create new sectors of economy and reduce dependenceon raw materials export. As for the Kazakhstani government, it prioritizes promotion of competitivenesson the global market of services, and correspondingly, stimulation of trade flows growth through its territory.This paper also discusses the influence of the geopolitical situation in Central Asia on the «Silk RoadEconomic Belt» initiative realization.Key words: Central Asia, sustainable development, transport corridors, program “Nurly Zhol», initiative«One Belt – one Road», TRACECA.

Maternal body composition in seedstock herds. 1. Grazing management strategy influences perspectives on optimal balance of production traits and maternal productivity

Seedstock breeders’ perspectives on topics associated with maternal productivity in beef cattle were investigated through the use of qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews. Given the complexity of maternal productivity, it is possible that some issues may not be fully captured by recording performance and data analysis. This paper discusses theory emerging from content analysis of interview data on management and genetic factors affecting maternal productivity as detailed by seedstock breeders in southern Australia. Overall, 24 interviews were conducted as part of an intensive field-work component with seedstock breeders involved with the Cooperative Research Centre for Beef Genetic Technologies’ Maternal Productivity Project. Qualitative content analysis of interview data revealed a considerable divergence in attitudes to cow management with regards to grazing management, body condition fluctuation and the utilisation of body fat reserves. Specifically, production systems diverged on the basis of animal management characterised by either ‘controlled’ or ‘variable input’ feeding strategies. Variation in management approach was associated with different perspectives on the perceived importance of selecting for production traits including growth, beef yield and milk compared with selection for perceived resilience traits including increased subcutaneous fat. The results demonstrated that among seedstock breeders targeting similar end markets, substantial variation in animal selection and management exists and this requires further characterisation to ensure breeding programs and animal management are optimal.

“To be HIV positive is not the end of the world”: Resilience among perinatally infected HIV positive adolescents in Johannesburg

BackgroundResilience, or positive adaptation to challenging situations, has potential to improve health outcomes for high risk populations. Resilience may be particularly important for perinatally infected HIV positive adolescents, who are exposed to significant stigma, risks and stressors. Despite recognition that HIV positive adolescents show remarkable resilience in the face of adversity, little is known about how resilience occurs within this population. MethodsThe aim of this study was to identify elements of resilience in a group of perinatally infected HIV positive adolescents attending HIV clinics. In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 purposively selected HIV positive adolescents (15 female, 10 male) between the ages of 13–19years in Johannesburg. Data were analysed in NVIVO 10 using a thematic approach to coding. ResultsDespite marked stressors in the lives of these adolescents, a high degree of resilience was described. Characteristics of resilience in this group included a pertinent set of beliefs, including a belief in fate and recognition of personal strength as a consequence of managing adversity. Character traits such as a pragmatic acceptance about one's life, actively taking responsibility, and a robust self-esteem were evident. Social behaviours included the ability to pursue and access adults and healthcare to meet developmental needs, having a desire to support and help others and challenging HIV related stigma. These characteristics were underscored by the capacity for self-reflection. ConclusionPerinatally infected adolescents, who face high levels of hardship and change, nevertheless exhibit strong resiliency beliefs, traits, and behaviours. Healthcare environments have the potential to be utilized as powerful resources in fostering resilience in HIV positive adolescents, if characteristics of adolescent resilience were integrated into current prevention and intervention programming. Resilience promotion could lead to improved health outcomes for HIV positive adolescents.

Residents' Insight on Student Mistreatment: What We Learned From Our First Action Research Cycle

BACKGROUND: The medical student mistreatment literature focuses on prevalence, risk factors, and mistreatment sources. Studies describe interventions to improve learning culture, however many students continue to report mistreatment. We initiated a project to engage residents to construct knowledge of the mistreatment phenomenon, plan, and evaluate actions to address this problem. METHODS: Action research (AR) is a repetitive, cyclical, participatory research process. We used the method of Group Level Assessment (GLA) to organize our first AR cycle. In a group setting, residents responded individually to 22 theoretically-derived prompts. Residents viewed all responses, performed first-cut qualitative analysis, and planned actions from group discussion. Secondary qualitative analysis was performed to understand mistreatment characteristics, contributing factors, responses and outcomes, and interventions. RESULTS: Twenty-three residents participated. Factors identified that contributed to student mistreatment included different medical specialty paths, unprepared students, poorly defined expectations, hierarchy, poor communications, and residents' need for patience, time and inspiration to teach. Residents acknowledged both negative and positive outcomes from humiliation, including loss of focus, learner withdrawal, positive resilience traits, motivation to learn, and attention to details. Solutions spanned clinical and educational interventions to needed gains in personal insight and improved behaviors. DISCUSSION: Our findings confirm the influence of previously described factors contributing to medical student mistreatment. Most importantly, we gained significant insight into local factors contributing to this phenomenon. Residents are now organizational change-makers, an AR principle. As a result, we are implementing resident-inspired interventions and moving forward with our next AR cycle.

Experiencing Resilience via Video Games

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of games, where characters must overcome adversity, on player’s perceptions of their psychological resilience. Located on the PlayStation blog (blog.us.playstation.com ), the online PlayStation Network (PSN) community group focuses on video gamers unique stories and experiences. Using a qualitative and exploratory design, blogs posted between March 2012 and January 2013 were analyzed for content describing experiences via gameplay that members reported made them feel more resilient. Both social and emotional aspects of resilience were discussed with players reporting game experiences had helped them feel more confident in their abilities. Many also associated themselves with the same resilient traits as their characters display in games. A range of popular off-the-shelf video games were reported as helpful in providing players with the opportunity to feel confident under pressure and, importantly, some players reported transferring these positive psychological effects to their real-world lives.

Advances in understanding the influence of fire on the ecology and evolution of plants: a tribute to Peter J. Clarke

In this special issue of Plant Ecology celebrating the research contributions of the late Peter J. Clarke, we review advances in understanding of interactions between fire and vegetation, and the role of these interactions in shaping the evolution of plant species. The research presented here reviews the measurement of fire severity and plant responses to it, particularly through resistance traits such as thick bark, and resilience traits such as regenerative organs and fire-cued recruitment. It explores genetic and ecological evidence for evolutionary hypotheses that provide insights into associations among plant traits and the causes of their non-random distribution across fire-prone landscapes. At these larger scales, the advances include new evidence for existence of fire-mediated alternative stable states and improved understanding of how ecological responses to fire might change under future climates. The diversity of subjects and scales of ecological organisation addressed in this collection of papers reflect the breadth and depth of Peter Clarke’s legacy in fire ecology.

How Much Do We Really Know About Employee Resilience?

Past research purporting to study employee resilience suffers from a lack of conceptual clarity about both the resilience construct and the methodological designs that examine resilience without ensuring the occurrence of significant adversity. The overall goal of this article is to address our contemporary understanding of employee resilience and identify pathways for the future advancement of resilience research in the workplace. We first address conceptual definitions of resilience both inside and outside of industrial and organizational psychology and make the case that researchers have generally failed to document the experience of significant adversity when studying resilience in working populations. Next, we discuss methods used to examine resilience, with an emphasis on distinguishing thecapacity forresilience and thedemonstration ofresilience. Representative research is then reviewed by examining self-reports of resilience or resilience-related traits along with research on resilient and nonresilient trajectories following significant adversity. We then briefly address the issues involved in selecting resilient employees and building resilience in employees. The article concludes with recommendations for future research studying resilience in the workplace, including documenting significant adversity among employees, assessing multiple outcomes, using longitudinal designs with theoretically supported time lags, broadening the study of resilience to people in occupations outside the military who may face significant adversity, and addressing the potential dark side of an emphasis on resilience.

DNA CpG Methylation (5-Methylcytosine) and Its Derivative (5-Hydroxymethylcytosine) Alter Histone Posttranslational Modifications at the Pomc Promoter, Affecting the Impact of Perinatal Diet on Leanness and Obesity of the Offspring.

A maternal high-fat diet (HFD) alters the offspring's feeding regulation, leading to obesity. This phenomenon is partially mediated by aberrant expression of the hypothalamic anorexigenic neuropeptide proopiomelanocortin (POMC). Nevertheless, although some individual offspring suffer from morbid obesity, others escape the malprogramming. It is suggested that this difference is due to epigenetic programming. In this study, we report that in lean offspring of non-HFD-fed dams, essential promoter regions for Pomc expression were enriched with 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) together with a reduction in the level of 5-methylcytosine (5mC). Moreover, 5hmC was negatively correlated whereas 5mC was positively correlated with body weight in offspring from both HFD- and control-fed dams. We further found that Pomc expression in obese offspring is determined by a two-step epigenetic inhibitory mechanism in which CpG methylation is linked with histone posttranslational modifications. An increase in CpG methylation at the Poxmc promoter enables binding of methyl-binding domain 1 (MBD1) to 5mC, but not to its derivative 5hmC. MBD1 then interacts with SET domain bifurcated 1 methyltransferase to promote bimethylation on the histone 3 lysine 9 residue, reducing Pomc mRNA expression. These results suggest an epigenetic regulatory mechanism that affects obesity-prone or resilient traits.

Variability in the response of amphipods and macroinvertebrate assemblage structure to prolonged drought in forested upland streams

With climate change set to increase the frequency and severity of drought in many parts of the world, there is a need to better understand the effects of drying on stream ecosystems. We investigated the long-term effects of drought on two amphipod taxa Paramoera fontana (Pontogeneiidae) and Austrogammarus australis (Paramelitidae) and macroinvertebrate assemblage structure through an analysis of 13 years of data collected from four forested stream reaches (Victoria, Australia). Abundances of A. australis and P. fontana in the lower reach of Lyrebird Creek declined to zero following surficial streambed drying. Similar declines in abundances were not observed in Sassafras Creek or the two headwater springs, which continued to flow throughout the drought. P. fontana was detected again in the lower reach of Lyrebird Creek 12 months after the final cease-to-flow, however A. australis remained undetected 5 years later, despite an upstream source population within 2 km. Both the entire and shredder macroinvertebrate assemblage structure in Sassafras Creek and the lower reach of Lyrebird Creek shifted significantly pre- and post-surficial streambed drying in the lower reach of Lyrebird Creek. Despite signs of recovery following a return to more average flows, assemblage composition remained considerably different. The substantial differences in the recovery of the two species indicates varying resistance and resilience traits. The failure of A. australis to recolonize after 5 years indicates an absence of any significant resistance or resilience traits. In contrast, the rapid re-colonization of P. fontana may indicate poor resistance traits, but strong resilience traits. The sensitivity of A. australis to cease-to-flow events points to the need to carefully manage water extraction to protect this threatened species. The effective management of macroinvertebrate assemblages in the face of drought requires a clear understanding of their response to drying, the conservation of refugia and the minimization of additional stressors which reduce ecosystem resilience.

Drying as a primary hydrological determinant of biodiversity in river systems: a broad‐scale analysis

Determining and understanding relationships between biodiversity and hydrology is a critical goal in ecology, particularly given biodiversity in the freshwater realm is in crisis. Despite the prevalence of rivers experiencing natural drying disturbances (which we collectively refer to as intermittent rivers), and projections of increased frequency and duration of drying events, the importance of drying relative to other flow‐related determinants of river biodiversity remains understudied. We assessed the influence of drying on alpha‐ and beta‐diversity using discharge and macroinvertebrate data collated from Australia and southwest Europe over broad spatial and temporal scales, providing information on current and past drying events, and combining a wide variety of flow metrics. We found clear evidence that drying acts as a strong environmental filter and is a primary hydrological determinant of alpha‐diversity; even when considering both intermittent and perennial rivers, drying‐event conditions were its most important predictors. Macroinvertebrate richness declined with increasing durations of drying over the long‐term (Australia) and recent (Australia and southwest Europe) history of river discharge, and with decreasing predictability of event timing (Australia). Our analysis also revealed that: responses can be taxon specific due to variation in traits of resistance and resilience to drying; some taxa may respond just as or more strongly to variation in other discharge components (e.g. high‐ or low‐flow events) than to drying; and together these phenomena may result in differing community‐level responses within and across regions. Patterns of beta‐diversity across the wide biogeographical range of our study suggested that convergent and divergent niche‐selection processes may act in combination on aquatic communities of rivers experiencing drying disturbances. However, strong ability to disperse by flight (not by water) weakened beta‐diversity patterning among rivers. Our findings can be used to improve understanding of biodiversity organisation in disturbed systems, notably in those with dendritic features, including intermittent rivers.

The Role of Attentional Control and Resilience in Predicting the Rumination in Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Background: Rumination is one of the extreme negative cognitions in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It is assumed that some cognitive problems such as attentional control can facilitate rumination and some internal capabilities such as resiliency can reduce engaging in these ruminations. Objectives: The present study investigated the relationship between rumination with attentional control and resiliency in patients with OCD. Patients and Methods: In this correlational study, 50 patients with OCD were selected through accessible purposive sampling. The data was obtained through ruminative response, Connor and Davidson resiliency, and scalability questionnaires and were analyzed using the Pearson correlation and multiple regression tests. Results: The results indicated a significant negative correlation (P = 0.001) between rumination and attentional control (r = 0.573) and resiliency (r = 0.579). Results of regression analysis indicated increased attentional control and resiliency can predict reduction of rumination (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Regarding that attentional control and resiliency are associated with rumination and can predict rumination in patients with obsession, nurturing resiliency traits and teaching techniques to improve attentional control can be effective in the control and prevention of rumination.

Predictors and moderators of biopsychological social stress responses following brief self-compassion meditation training

Arch et al. (2014) demonstrated that brief self-compassion meditation training (SCT) dampened sympathetic (salivary alpha-amylase) and subjective anxiety responses to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), relative to attention and no-instruction control conditions. The present study examined baseline predictors and moderators of these SCT intervention effects. Baseline characteristics included two stress vulnerability traits (social anxiety and rumination) and two potential resiliency traits (non-attachment and self-compassion). We investigated how these traits moderated the effects of SCT on response to the TSST, relative to the control conditions. We also tested how these individual differences predicted TSST responses across conditions in order to uncover characteristics that confer increased vulnerability and resiliency to social stressors. Trait non-attachment, rumination (for sympathetic TSST response only), and social anxiety (for subjective TSST response only) interacted with training condition to moderate TSST responses such that following SCT, lower attachment and lower social anxiety predicted lower TSST stress responses, relative to those scoring higher on these traits. In contrast, trait self-compassion neither moderated nor predicted responses to the TSST. Thus, although SCT had robust effects on buffering stress across individuals with varying levels of trait self-compassion, other psychological traits enhanced or dampened the effect of SCT on TSST responses. These findings support the importance of examining the role of relevant baseline psychological traits to predict sympathetic and subjective responses to social evaluative threat, particularly in the context of resiliency training.

Potential predictors of psychological distress and well-being in medical students: a cross-sectional pilot study.

PurposeResearch has consistently found that the proportion of medical students who experience high levels of psychological distress is significantly greater than that found in the general population. The aim of our research was to assess the levels of psychological distress more extensively than has been done before, and to determine likely predictors of distress and well-being.Subjects and methodsIn 2013, students from an Australian undergraduate medical school (n=127) completed a questionnaire that recorded general demographics, hours per week spent studying, in paid work, volunteer work, and physical exercise; past and current physical and mental health, social support, substance use, measures of psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, depression, anxiety, stress, burnout); and personality traits.ResultsFemales were found to have higher levels of psychological distress than males. However, in regression analysis, the effect of sex was reduced to nonsignificance when other variables were included as predictors of psychological distress. The most consistent significant predictors of our 20 indicators of psychological distress were social support and the personality traits of emotional resilience and self-control.ConclusionThe findings suggest that emotional resilience skills training embedded into the medical school curriculum could reduce psychological distress among medical students.

Responses of resilience traits to gradients of temperature, rainfall and fire frequency in fire-prone, Australian forests: potential consequences of climate change

The composition of plant communities may be driven by responses of key plant resilience traits (resprouting R+, non-resprouting R−, persistent P+ and transient P− seedbanks) to either resource competition or disturbance regimes. We explored responses of overall species richness and the richness of herbs and shrubs within the three most common functional types (i.e. facultative resprouters R+P+, obligate resprouters R+P−, obligate seeders R−P+) to orthogonal combinations of temperature (MAT), rainfall (MAP) and fire frequency (FF) in Dry Sclerophyll Forest in the Sydney basin (south-eastern Australia). R+ and P+ species were predominant (>72 % of total species). Overall richness was a significant positive function of MAT, MAP and FF. Positive relationships between species richness and MAP, MAT and FF occurred across all trait and functional type groups, with MAP being the most influential and FF the least. Responses of proportions of species within trait- and functional-type groups were complex. Proportion of R+ species was negatively related to MAT and MAP, but species-rich herb and shrub R+P+ proportions were positively and negatively related to MAT, respectively. The herb R+P+ proportion was negatively related to FF. The results were inconsistent with the disturbance frequency and resource competition models of resilience variation. Rises in MAT under climate change have the potential not only to increase overall species plus richness across all trait groups but also to diminish shrubs relative to herbs in the key R+P+ functional types. Such a scenario is highly uncertain given the variability in future MAP projections for the region.

Leveraging nature's backup plans to incorporate interspecific interactions and resilience into restoration

Interspecific interactions are important structuring forces in ecological communities. Interactions can be disturbed when species are lost from a community. When interactions result in fitness gains for at least one participating organism, that organism may experience reduced fitness as a result of interaction disturbance. However, many species exhibit traits that enable individuals to persist and reproduce in spite of such disruptions, resulting in resilience to interaction disturbance. Such traits can result in interaction generalization, phenotypic and behavioral plasticity, and adaptive capacity. We discuss examples of these traits and use case studies to illustrate how restoration practitioners can use a trait-based approach to examine species of concern, identify traits that are associated with interspecific interactions and are relevant to resilience, and target such traits in restoration. Restoration activities that bolster interaction resilience could include, for example, reintroducing or supporting specific functional groups or managing abiotic conditions to reduce interaction dependence by at-risk species (e.g. providing structural complexity offering shelter and cover). Resilience may also be an important consideration in species selection for restoration. Establishment of resilient species, able to persist after interaction disturbance, may be essential to restoring to a functioning ecological community. Once such species are present, they could help support more specialized species that lack resilience traits, such as many species of concern. Understanding the conditions under which processes linked to resilience may enable species to persist and communities to reform following interaction disturbance is a key application of community ecology to ecological restoration.

Predictors of psychological distress and well-being in a sample of Australian undergraduate students

ABSTRACTPrevious research has found university students report higher levels of psychological distress compared to the general population. Our aim was to investigate the degree to which personality and contextual factors predict psychological distress and well-being in students over the course of a semester. We also examined whether resilience-building skills, such as positive self-talk, mindfulness meditation and self-management, included in a first-year psychology subject, might reduce distress and improve well-being. Undergraduate first-year students (n = 150) completed a battery of questionnaires in week three (Time 1; n = 150) and week 10 (Time 2; n = 53) of semester. At both times students reported high levels of psychological distress, as measured by the K10, the General Health Questionnaire and the Brief Symptom Inventory, and low levels of psychological well-being, as measured by the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. Students exposed to resilience-building skills embedded in a subject (n = 24) were no less distressed at Time 2 than those not enrolled in that subject (n = 29). The personality traits of emotional resilience (vs. reactivity) and bounce-back resilience measured at Time 1 were the only significant predictors of psychological distress and well-being measured at Time 2. Students with high emotional and bounce-back resilience had lower psychological distress and higher well-being scores. Future research could consider development and trial of a full semester university subject designed to improve students’ resilience knowledge and skills.