Trait Resilience Research Articles

THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF RESILIENCE ON SHRINKAGE OF FRIENDSHIP IN LATER LIFE

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the protective effect of trait resilience, a positive personality characteristic that enhances individual adaptation to life events and adversity, in the face of declining social relationships in later life. Social relations have a significant effect on our development and well-being throughout life. However, it is known that a decline in physical, cognitive, and mental functioning makes it difficult to maintain active participation in society and leads to shrinking social networks in later life. Therefore, it is important to identify protective factors that enable people to maintain positive social relations when functioning in daily life declines in old age. We analyzed longitudinal survey data from a representative sample of older Japanese adults aged 74 to 86 years (N=1064). The interaction effect of resilience in the relationship between functions (physical, cognitive, and mental) and relationships with friends (social support exchange and companionship) was examined using multi-group Structured Equation Modeling (SEM). Respondents were divided into upper quartile and lower quartile groups according to their Resilience Scale (RS-14) scores. The results showed significant group differences for the effect of cognitive function on friendship. The positive correlation between cognitive functioning and friendship was stronger among respondents with low resilience. For high resilience participants, cognitive functioning was not associated with friendship. The results suggest that resilient older adults cope well with poor cognitive health and maintain positive social relationships in very late life.

Diabetes Self Care, Resilience and Quality of Life among Patients with Type II Diabetes

Diabetes is highly prevalent disease in Pakistan, and it greatly impacts the quality of life of its patients. Diabetes self-care and resilience can be significant in this regard. Objective: To find out the relation among diabetes self-care, resilience, and quality of life in patients with type II diabetes. Methods: The correlation research design was used along with purposive sampling to select the sample (N=200) from Government and private hospitals of Lahore. 11 items Summary Diabetes Self-care Activity scale (SDSCA), 18 items Trait Resilience Scale (TRS) and 15 items Diabetes Quality of Life (DQOL) scale were used in the study. Researchers translated English versions of TRS and DQOL scales into Urdu language following the Lexion Equivalence method of translation. Results: Correlation analysis revealed significant positive relation between general diet and resilience (.61, p< 0.5), Blood glucose and resilience (.53, p < 0.5) and between resilience and quality of life (.77, p<0.5). Multiple linear regression revealed that self-care activities significantly predict quality of life. Conclusions: The more the patients are following self-care activities, the better will be their quality of life. The study will be helpful for clinical psychologists to boost the resilience of patients with diabetes

Modelling the Relationship Between Resilience to Depression and Recent Stressful Life Events in University Students.

Resilience, or successful coping with the experience of stressful life events (SLEs), protects against depression, but its operational mechanisms are unclear. Views diverge whether resilience intervenes as a trait or as a process of dynamic interactions of protective factors, such as self-esteem, social support and family cohesion. We evaluated five theoretically-based models of how resilience, defined as either a trait or a process, interacts with recent SLEs, to explain depressive symptomatology in 2434 university students. The moderating effect of problematic, age-inappropriate parenting (i.e., helicopter parenting) was also assessed. SLEs moderated both the effects of trait and process resilience on depression, but models conceptualising resilience as a dynamic process of interacting components showed better explanatory power than models conceptualising resilience solely as a trait. Trait resilience was protective through self-esteem at all levels of SLEs exposure (low, mild, moderate or high), and significantly, but less so through hope or social support. Experiencing helicopter parenting weakened the protective influence of process resilience, through decreasing family cohesion in the presence of SLEs. The overall assessment of the five models supports a process conceptualisation of resilience to depression in the face of adversity. However, the results also suggest that not all protective factors are equally important, with self-esteem appearing a significant and strong mediator of resilience to depression in all models including it as a variable. Building process resilience is proposed as a key intervention target for depressive symptoms. Clinical assessments and interventions following SLEs should routinely consider both trait resilience and self-esteem, as the interaction of these two factors protects against depression even at the highest levels of adversity exposure. Depression prevention approaches should address the individual's experience of overparenting, given the deleterious influence of helicopter parenting on resilience.

Emotion regulation difficulties link trait resilience and symptoms of depression and anxiety in psychiatric outpatients.

Despite negative associations of trait resilience with depression and anxiety symptoms, the mechanisms by which resilience may buffer against these symptoms remain underexplored. This study investigated emotion regulation difficulties as a potential link in the relationship between trait resilience and depression and anxiety severity in psychiatric outpatients (N = 353). Participants diagnosed with primary depression or anxiety disorders were evaluated prior to treatment initiation with the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale (CUDOS), and Clinically Useful Anxiety Outcome Scale (CUXOS). In the depression sample, the effect of resilience on CUDOS scores was fully mediated by total DERS scores. In the anxiety sample, the effect of resilience on CUXOS scores was partially mediated by total DERS scores. Exploratory parallel mediation analyses showed only the DERS subscale strategies had a significant effect on CUDOS scores, while only goals had a significant effect on CUXOS scores. Emotion regulation difficulties are a mediator of trait resilience in psychiatric outpatients. For patients seeking treatment for depression, difficulties with accessing emotion regulation strategies may be particularly relevant, while difficulties meeting one's goals may be most relevant for patients seeking treatment for anxiety.

Exploring the mediating effects of negative and positive religious coping between resilience and mental well-being.

The purpose of the study was to examine more thoroughly the relationship between trait resilience and mental well-being. Although research demonstrates that this relationship is partially mediated by stress-related variables, no study has taken into account the mediating role of religious coping. We examined the mediating role of both variants of religious coping, positive and negative, along with specific strategies within the scope of religious coping strategies in a group of practicing Catholics. Participants were 317 people aged 19-60 years (M = 24.34; SD = 6.30). The respondents indicated their gender and age, and then completed the RS-14 (trait resilience), RCOPE (religious coping), and WEMWBS (mental well-being) scales. The results displayed a significant relationship between resilience and mental well-being (r = 0.67; p < 0.001). The relationship between resilience and positive religious coping was negligible (r = 0.09; p = 0.74), contrary to the relationship between resilience and negative coping that was significant but weak (r = -0.29; p < 0.001). Although the relationships between overall negative and positive religious coping with mental well-being were irrelevant, we found significant relationships between some strategies and mental well-being. The mediation analysis has demonstrated that the general negative religious coping and the strategies of demonic reappraisal, passive religious deferral, and spiritual discontent have enhanced the positive relationship between resilience and mental well-being. Contrary to expectation, positive strategies did not mediate the relationship between resilience and mental well-being, except religious practices (c ' path totaled β = 0.66; t = 15.74, p < 0.001). The insignificant mediation effect can stem from the fact that the relationship between positive religious coping and stress is noticeable only in the long term. We controlled age and sex as statistically significant covariates so that the mediation effects obtained were devoid of the influence of those critical variables on the models. This is the first study to investigate the role of religious coping as a mediator in the relationship between resilience and mental well-being.

The relationship between cortisol awakening response and trait resilience in two patient cohorts and one population-based cohort

Objectives We examined (1) the proportion of cortisol awakening non-responders, (2) the association between cortisol awakening response (CAR) and trait resilience, and (3) the association between CAR increase and trait resilience in two patient cohorts (depression and myocardial infarction [CVD]) and one population-based cohort. Methods Eight hundred and eighty study participants delivered CAR scores (response and increase) based on three self-collected saliva samples and a trait resilience score. Descriptive data of CAR non-responders were reported and calculated. Associations between CAR response/increase and trait resilience, sociodemographic and compliance variables were evaluated using multiple logistic and multiple linear regression analyses stratified by cohort. Results The proportion of CAR non-responders was high in all cohorts (57% depression cohort, 53.4% CVD cohort, 51.6% control cohort). In the depression cohort age was associated with CAR response and increase. In the CVD cohort salivary collection on a weekday was associated with CAR response and awakening time with CAR increase. In the control cohort age was associated with CAR response and sex with CAR increase. Conclusions We observed many CAR non-responders and significant associations between CAR response and CAR increase with single sociodemographic and compliance variables. We did not find significant relationships between CAR response or increase and trait resilience.

Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies as Mediators between Resilience and Stress during COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) Background: Although there is accumulating evidence for the associations between resilience, emotion regulation and stress, little is known about the mechanisms of these relations. To extend the existing research, the present study examined cognitive emotion regulation strategies as one potential mechanism between trait resilience and perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: Young adults (N = 266; M = 20.05; SD = 3.93) were invited to fill out questionnaires that assessed trait resilience, cognitive emotion regulation strategies and perceived stress. (3) Results: The results showed that resilience was negatively associated with perceived stress and with self-blame, catastrophizing and rumination, and positively associated with positive reappraisal, focus on planning, positive refocus and putting into perspective. Stress was positively associated with self-blame, catastrophizing, rumination, other-blame and acceptance, and negatively associated with positive reappraisal and positive refocus. Moreover, positive refocus, rumination, catastrophizing and self-blame partially explained the associations between trait resilience and perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. (4) Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential utility of targeting cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the development and implementation of preventive interventions for reducing stress during highly challenging situations.

Prevalence and predictors of psychological distress in women diagnosed with breast cancer and women without breast cancer: a prospective study of psychological risk and resilience factors

Abstract Background: There is some controversy whether psychological distress after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment remains elevated at the long-term follow-up. This study compares the prevalence of psychological distress and anxiety and depressive disorders between patients with breast cancer and women without cancer in a prospective longitudinal design. Moreover, risk and protective factors for psychological distress and anxiety and depressive disorders were compared between the 2 groups. Methods: Two hundred fifty-three patients with breast cancer who underwent surgery completed a series of self-report questionnaires immediately after surgery and 18 months later. In addition, 211 female participants without being diagnosed with cancer were assessed at the same time points. Outcomes are psychological distress as measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and possible presence of anxiety and depressive disorders measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire. Trait resilience, optimism, and neuroticism were investigated as protective or risk factors for the development of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression. Results: We found that the levels of psychological distress and the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders are higher in the breast cancer group both at baseline and at 18 months of follow-up. Trait resilience and optimism were observed to be protective factors, and neuroticism was found to be a risk factor in both the breast cancer group and the comparison group. Conclusions: Psychological distress, depression, and anxiety remain elevated in patients with breast cancer over a period of one-and-a-half year. The identified protective and risk factors for these conditions are not unique for patients with breast cancer.

COVID-19-Related Self-Stigma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Insomnia, and Smartphone Addiction Among Frontline Government Workers with COVID-19 Pandemic Control Duties.

PurposeThe duties related to COVID-19 control and prevention may have caused psychological stress for the individuals in charge (eg, frontline government workers) and have reportedly led to mental health issues, such as insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the prevalence of these COVID-19-related disorders and their associated factors remain unclear. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence rates of insomnia, PTSD, COVID-19-related self-stigma, and smartphone addiction, along with the identification of risk factors and protective factors for Taiwan frontline government workers with COVID-19 pandemic control duties.MethodsThe survey was carried out with 151 participants between September and October 2021. All participants completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (assessing fear of COVID-19), Self-Stigma Scale (assessing self-stigma during the COVID-19 pandemic), Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (assessing the risk of smartphone addiction), Insomnia Severity Index (assessing insomnia), Impacts of Event Scale-6 (assessing PTSD), and a self-designed set of questions assessing trait resilience.ResultsThe results showed that the prevalence rate was 31.1% for insomnia and 33.8% for PTSD. Furthermore, service duration (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.86, 0.999) and trait resilience (AOR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.08, 0.46) were protective factors and fear of COVID-19 (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI = 1.02, 3.57) was a risk factor for insomnia. Fear of COVID-19 (AOR = 2.63; 95% CI = 1.35, 5.14), self-stigma (AOR = 3.62; 95% CI = 1.19, 11.02), and smartphone addiction (AOR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.001, 1.19) were risk factors, and trait resilience was a protective factor (AOR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.29, 1.17) for PTSD.ConclusionThe findings demonstrated a high prevalence of insomnia and PTSD. Risk-reducing strategies and protective factor promotion strategies are recommended to help reduce the symptoms of insomnia and PTSD among Taiwan frontline government workers.

Trait resilience and work–family conflict: a two-study test into the role of employees' interpersonal vs. intrapersonal resilient traits

PurposeWork–family conflict (WFC) is a chronic source of stress, threatening contemporary organizations. Employees' own characteristics, which have received limited scientific attention, can help mitigate WFC. The current two studies tested, for the first time, the links of higher-order trait resilience models to WFC, while exploring possible mediators and differentiating the contributions of interpersonal vs. intrapersonal resilient traits.Design/methodology/approachIn study 1, the authors tested a mediation model in which trait negotiation resilience (TNR), which is oriented toward challenges that involve balancing conflicting needs with others, predicted multidimensional (time, strain and behavior based) WFC, through three mediators: emotion regulation (intrapersonal), self-monitoring and work–family balance negotiation (both interpersonally oriented). In study 2, both TNR and the more intrapersonal Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were associated with a global, more parsimonious measurement of WFC. Additionally, TNR's factors were separately correlated with the latter.FindingsTNR associated with lower multidimensional WFC through emotion regulation, which partly mediated TNR's effect; and through self-monitoring, which suppressed TNR's effect because it related to higher WFC (balance negotiation had no effect). In study 2, CD-RISC, but not TNR, related to lower global WFC. Additionally, two intrapersonal TNR factors tended to relate to lower WFC, while one interpersonal factor related to higher WFC.Originality/valueThe studies demonstrate the role of higher-order trait resilience in WFC, while fine-tuning understanding of the contributions of intrapersonal vs. interpersonal resilience. The findings may be relevant to other organizational challenges, beyond WFC, and inform employee recruitment and training.

Trait resilience and subjective well-being in emerging adulthood: a two-wave longitudinal study

Trait resilience and subjective well-being in emerging adulthood: a two-wave longitudinal study

The longitudinal influence of hedonic and eudaimonic entertainment preferences on psychological resilience and wellbeing

Narratives and media entertainment are central sources of meaningful experiences in everyday life and provide role models and learning opportunities for coping with adversity and life challenges. Though a growing body of research demonstrates beneficial short-term effects of entertainment use on recovery and stress coping, a test of longitudinal effects on positive adaptation to adversity is largely missing. The present study aims at providing a salutogenic perspective on the mental health effects of entertainment use by addressing the longitudinal relationship between hedonic and eudaimonic entertainment preferences (i.e., the individual entertainment diet) and three indicators of psychological resilience: hope, meaning in life, and trait resilience. Pre-registered hypotheses and research questions were tested based on data from a longitudinal panel study with two waves over a 6-month time period andN= 2,561 participants from Germany. The findings demonstrate that only meaning in life at T2 was significantly albeit weakly predicted by eudaimonic entertainment preferences at T1, providing limited support for prospective effects of entertainment use on resilience. In contrast, the data demonstrate selective exposure effects of hope and trait resilience at T1 on eudaimonic and hedonic entertainment preferences at T2. All three resilience indicators were significant predictors of mental health and psychological wellbeing. We discuss implications of our findings for future research on salutary mental health effects of narratives and media entertainment.

Trait Resilience: Jingle Fallacy or Triangulation?

This study investigated conceptual and empirical concerns related to trait resilience through systematic review and meta-analysis. First, investigating multiple conceptualizations and operationalizations of trait resilience, we found imprecision and incompatibility in definitions and measures of this construct. Then, based on an analysis of 85 samples comprising 23,983 participants, we assessed whether the eight most commonly used measures of trait resilience in the organizational literature reflected a jingle fallacy (i.e., calling different constructs by the same name) or triangulation (i.e., assessing different aspects of a complex construct) across different measures. The results indicated that the specific measure used to operationalize trait resilience explained between 18% and 85% of the variance in the relationship between trait resilience and its correlates. Moreover, an item-level examination of the measures revealed little consistency across scales and uneven theoretical correspondence with the concept of trait resilience. The findings suggested the presence of a jingle fallacy in the literature. To advance the study of trait resilience and stimulate theoretically informed new research, we used the results to propose a different way of thinking about trait resilience and its measurement.

Stability of resilience in times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is disagreement among researchers regarding the conceptualization of resilience as a dynamic state or stable trait. Aiming to shed light on the state‐versus‐trait debate, we explored the stability and construct validity of four of the most frequently utilized state or trait resilience scales in a longitudinal assessment. Additionally, we examined the predictive validity of these scales. Our study was conducted before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic, which served as collectively experienced adversity. Correlations among the resilience scales and among resilience scales and Big Five personality traits were strong. All except one scale showed high test–retest correlations. Experience of an additional critical life event during the pandemic led to an increase in resilience. Other than in cross‐sectional studies, associations between resilience and psychological distress were weak, because personality and baseline psychological distress were controlled for. Nevertheless, next to personality, resilience explained additional variance in distress change. Our results show relatively high stability of resilience overall. Yet, they also confirm dynamic resilience features, suggesting that resilience change occurs with significant adversity, leading to improved adaptation. To gauge the true association between resilience and mental health, baseline levels of these variables as well as personality traits should be considered.

The roles of trait and process resilience in relation of BIS/BAS and depressive symptoms among adolescents.

BackgroundExtensive literature revealed the relations of depression with behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and behavioral activation system (BAS) as vulnerability and with resilience separately. Besides, the concept of resilience is still broad and ambiguous. Thus, this study aimed to reveal the mediation of two aspects of resilience: trait and process, in the relations of BIS and BAS to depression among adolescents.MethodsThe data set used in this study was a cross-sectional survey among 965 adolescents. The obtained data from the self-reported questionnaires used in this study were as below: Depression Serf-Rating Scale for Children (DSRS-C), Behavioral Inhibition and Behavioral Activation System Scale (BIS/BASS), and Bidimensional Resilience Scale (BRS). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to verify the hypothesized relations among BIS/BAS, trait and behavior resilience, and depressive symptoms.ResultsThe obtained indices of fit from SEM were good or sufficient (χ2 = 562.911, df = 96, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.925; NFI = 0.913; RMSEA = 0.073, 90% CI [0.067, 0.079]; SRMR = 0.066). And the modeling showed that both BIS/BAS directly and indirectly influenced to depression. The indirect effects of BIS/BAS were mediated only trait resilience except the indirect effect of BIS via behavioral resilience.DiscussionOur results suggested that trait resilience played a significant mediation role in the relationships between BIS/BAS and depression. Trait but not process resilience could be considered suitable as an intervention target in line with decreasing depression.

The effects of trait resilience and rumination on psychological adaptation to breast cancer.

This cross-sectional study examined the effect of trait resilience and specific types of rumination on positive psychological adaptation post-diagnosis among 201 breast cancer patients. They completed self-reported measures describing trait resilience, rumination, posttraumatic growth, and health-related quality of life. Hierarchical analysis showed that trait resilience significantly predicted higher quality of life and posttraumatic growth after controlling for demographic and clinical variables. Additionally, "intrusion" and "brooding" subtypes of rumination negatively predicted quality of life, with "instrumentality" positively predicting quality of life and posttraumatic growth, suggesting the importance of trait resilience and multidimensional rumination for positive psychological changes among breast cancer survivors.

Trait resilience and resilient behavior at work: The mediating role of the learning climate

Although the positive effects of resilience at work are well documented, the mechanisms that explain the translation of trait resilience into resilient behavior at work remain unclear. Drawing on person-environment fit theory in conjunction with trait-activation theory and utilizing two-wave data of Dutch employees, we investigated whether and which learning-supportive environment (i.e., a perception of learning climate) mediates the effects of trait resilience as a personal characteristic on behavioral resilience at work. Our results indicate that an appreciation learning climate as well as a facilitating learning climate mediate the relationship between trait resilience and resilient behavior at work. Taken together, this study suggests that managers should be cautious encouraging perceptions of error avoidance within their organizations.

Trait resilience as a moderator between personality dysfunction and caregiving stress in caregivers of children and adults with developmental disabilities

Background Long-term care of a relative with a disability is associated with negative consequences on the caregiver’s mental health. Therefore, investigating how some personality traits, such as resilience, protect caregivers with dysfunctional personality traits from caregiving stress is necessary. This study examines the moderating role of resilience in the relationship between caregiver’s personality dysfunction and care stress. Methods A total of 224 family caregivers of children and adults with developmental disabilities participated in this cross-sectional research. They completed self-report measures of resilience, personality dysfunction, and care stress. Results The results show that medium and high levels of resilience protect familial caregivers from the adverse effects of personality dysfunction on stress. The relationship is maintained for three of the five dysfunctional personality traits (antagonism, disinhibition, and psychoticism). Conclusions From a theoretical point of view, the results show the contribution of the dimensional personality model to the study of caregiving stress. From a practical standpoint, the results can be used to optimise the resilience of familial caregivers, providing them with tools to take better care of their relatives.

Neurocognitive correlates of psychological resilience: Event-related potential studies

BackgroundThere is a growing interest in exploring the neurocognitive mechanisms that may underlie psychological resilience. However, how the bottom-up automatic information processing relates to trait resilience has received less attention. We aimed to explore the relationship between trait resilience and trait-like automatic information processing in healthy adults. MethodsEighty-four healthy adults were recruited to explore whether and how resilience was related to sensory sensitivity by event-related potentials (ERPs). Resilience was measured by Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Sensory sensitivity, more specifically, sensitivity of automatic mismatch detection was measured by two ERPs components, i.e., the mismatch negativity (MMN) with a passive auditory oddball paradigm and the error-related negativity (ERN) with an auditory Go/NoGo task. Using the multiple linear regression analyses, the relationship between self-reported resilience and the sensitivity of automatic mismatch detection (MMN/ERN amplitude/latency) was explored. ResultsThe results showed that psychological resilience was positively correlated with both MMN and ERN latencies, i.e., higher resilience scores were associated with delayed MMN and ERN latencies. However, resilience was not significantly correlated with MMN and ERN amplitudes. ConclusionsOur results suggested that relatively higher resilience might link with less sensory sensitivity as reflected by slower automatic detection to mismatch information in the environment.

Perspectives on resilience: Trait resilience, correlates of resilience in daily life, and longer-term change in affective distress.

Resilience describes successful adaptation in the face of adversity, commonly inferred from trajectories of well-being following major life events. Alternatively, resilience was conceptualised as a psychological trait, facilitating adaptation through stable individual characteristics. Both perspectives may relate to individual differences in how stress is regulated in daily life. In the present study, we combined these perspectives on resilience. Our sample consisted of N=132 middle-aged adults, who experienced major life events in between two waves of a longitudinal study. We implemented latent change regression models to predict change in affective distress. As predictors, we investigated trait resilience and correlates of resilience in daily life (stressor occurrence, stress reactivity, positive reappraisal, mindful attention, and acceptance), measured using experience sampling (T=70 occasions). Unexpectedly, trait resilience was not associated with change in distress. In contrast, resilience correlates in daily life, most notably lower stress reactivity, were associated with more favourable change. Higher trait resilience related to higher average mindfulness, higher reappraisal, and lower negative affect. Overall, while trait resilience translated into everyday correlates of resilience, it was not predictive of changes in affective distress. Instead, precursors of changes in well-being may be found in correlates of resilience in daily life.