Measuring Resilience in Adult Women Using the 10-Items Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Role of Trauma Exposure and Anxiety Disorders

Abstract

PurposeResilience is the ability of individuals to adapt positively in the face of trauma. Little is known, however, about lifetime factors affecting resilience.MethodsWe assessed the effects of psychiatric disorder and lifetime trauma history on the resilience self-evaluation using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) in a high-risk-women sample. Two hundred and thirty eight community-dwelling women, including 122 participants in a study of breast cancer survivors and 116 participants without previous history of cancer completed the CD-RISC-10. Lifetime psychiatric symptoms were assessed retrospectively using two standardized psychiatric examinations (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and Watson's Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Inventory).ResultsMultivariate logistic regression adjusted for age, education, trauma history, cancer, current psychiatric diagnoses, and psychoactive treatment indicated a negative association between current psychiatric disorder and high resilience compared to low resilience level (OR = 0.44, 95% CI [0.21–0.93]). This was related to anxiety and not mood disorder. A positive and independent association with a trauma history was also observed (OR = 3.18, 95% CI [1.44–7.01]).ConclusionSelf-evaluation of resilience is influenced by both current anxiety disorder and trauma history. The independent positive association between resilience and trauma exposure may indicate a “vaccination” effect. This finding need to be taken into account in future studies evaluating resilience in general or clinical populations.

Work Stress, Coping Strategies and Resilience: A Study among Working Females

“…They further commented that individuals with some history of lifetime low or moderate adversity are better adjusted with healthy well-being in recent adverse events than individuals with no history of adversity and high adversity. The concept concurs with the idea that resilience grows with successful process of coping in adversity and leads to a better psychological functioning and well-being (Scali et al, 2012;van Heugten, 2013). In the same way, resilience and successful coping in work stress are able to buffer against negative effects of stress and improve the working females' well-being.…”

“…As the roots of resilience are found in psychological aspects of coping and physiological aspects of stress, most research has been conducted in the areas of mental and social health (Kinman & Grant, 2011;Wilks & Spivy, 2010), nursing (Jackson et al, 2007;Mealer et al, 2012), and trauma (Scali et al, 2012). Overwhelmingly, the findings point to the importance of promoting positive ehavior, identifying and minimizing risks, cultivating the relationship of resilience with other factors, and developing intervention programmes that incorporate support network resources.…”

“…Alternatively, in a study on role of trauma exposure and anxiety disorders in adult women, Scali et al (2012) found that women scoring high in the 10-Items Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) were less likely than women scoring low in the CD-RISC-10 to develop anxiety and mood disorders. They linked resilience and lifetime trauma exposure and found that the variables are influenced by the self-evaluation of resilience by the women faced with current stressful situations and the different perception of stress.…”

Resilience in the First Episode of Major Depressive Disorder

“…One study showed resilience was negatively associated with both anxiety and depressive disorders, which was reasonable because a resilient outcome implies healthy functioning [39]. However, most literature has shown inconsistent find-ings of positive, negative, and absent relationships [40].…”

Measuring 'Subjective Resilience': Using Peoples' Perceptions to Quantify Household Resilience

“…CD-RISC is a self-administered scale of 25 questions testing psychometric properties that cover five factors corresponding to: personal competence, high standards, and tenacity; trust in one's instincts, tolerance of negative affect, and strengthening effects of stress; positive acceptance of change and secure relationships with others; control; and spiritual influences (Singh & Yu, 2010). A shortened version featuring 10 questions has also shown to be as effective, and concentrates on the ability of person to bounce back from the variety of challenges that can arise in life (Scali et al, 2012).…”