Cultivating forgiveness, resilience and positive change: a resilience intervention pilot study among persons with disabilities

Abstract

Several factors mentioned throughout the literature are associated with resilience. Some of these factors include locus of control, 16,17 mental and emotional regulation, attitude and outlook on life, 18 prayer and meditation, spirituality, 5,18 forgiveness, 19,20 compassion, 21 self-compassion, gratitude, meaning-making, 22 problem-solving skills, 23 social and family support, 5 perseverance, 24 grit, cognitive flexibility, facing one's fears, inner strength, 25 personal growth and transformation, 21 and hope. 4 Many of these factors are useful to people with disabilities as

Strength-Based Flourishing Intervention to Promote Resilience in Individuals With Physical Disabilities in Disadvantaged Communities: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…To end such a vicious cycle, scholars have shifted their focus on identifying impairments in functioning (i.e., deficit-based perspectives) to identify personal strengths in individuals with disabilities (i.e., strength-based perspectives; Niemiec et al, 2017). With strength-based perspectives, individuals with physical disabilities are able to exhibit positive reactions and adaptations to the “new normal” circumstance, that is, living with disability (Dunn et al, 2009; Stuntzner & Hartley, 2014). Resilience is generally conceptualized as an effective coping mechanism and positive adaptation among individuals facing adversities (Windle, 2011).…”

Exploration of a resilience intervention among women with disabilities: an examination of two case studies

“…Second, these cases shed light on the fact that long-term change in anxiety, depression, resilience, and forgiveness were either maintained or stronger than at the start of the study. Prior resilience intervention studies and case studies 29,30 utilizing Stuntzner and Hartley's resilience intervention did not have long-term change data beyond that collected at post-test. Although this information is preliminary, it demonstrates that some people are able to maintain or improve functioning over a longer period of time.…”

“…The first resilience intervention study was utilized among a mixed group of men and women with disabilities. 29,30 In the first resilience intervention study, Stuntzner and colleagues 29,30 examined changes in anxiety, depression, resilience, and forgiveness before and following the conclusion of the 10-module resilience intervention. 1 These same four areas (i.e., anxiety, depression, resilience, and forgiveness) were included as a part of the current study.…”

“…Women who participated in the resilience intervention study were administered pre-tests, post-tests, and follow-up tests, two months later. Similar to the initial pilot studies, 29,30 women who participated in the resilience intervention pilot study lived with varied disabilities and diagnoses. Some of these included Rheumatoid Arthritis, chronic pain, back/spinal injuries, fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety, Parkinson's disease and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.…”

“…Second, the case studies are part of a larger resilience intervention study conducted among women with disabilities 1 and to date, one other pilot-study utilizing) 1 resilience intervention has been published. 30 The initial pilot study did not include long-term change data so the follow-up data obtained and described as a part of these case studies is new information. Therefore, other resilience intervention studies do not have long-term data to compare the findings.…”