Operationalising resilience in longitudinal studies: a systematic review of methodological approaches

Abstract

Over the life course, we are invariably faced with some form of adversity. The process of positively adapting to adverse events is known as ‘resilience’. Despite the acknowledgement of 2 common components of resilience, that is, adversity and positive adaptation, no consensus operational definition has been agreed. Resilience operationalisations have been reviewed in a cross-sectional context; however, a review of longitudinal methods of operationalising resilience has not been conducted. The present study conducts a systematic review across Scopus and Web of Science capturing studies of ageing that posited operational definitions of resilience in longitudinal studies of ageing. Thirty-six studies met inclusion criteria. Non-acute events, for example, cancer, were the most common form of adversity identified and psychological components, for example, the absence of depression, the most common forms of positive adaptation. Of the included studies, 4 used psychometrically driven methods, that is, repeated administration of established resilience metrics, 9 used definition-driven methods, that is, a priori establishment of resilience components and criteria, and 23 used data-driven methods, that is, techniques that identify resilient individuals using latent variable models. Acknowledging the strengths and limitations of each operationalisation is integral to the appropriate application of these methods to life course and longitudinal resilience research.

Healthy ageing, resilience and wellbeing

“…This ability of a substance to be able to 'bounce back' has subsequently been applied to individuals. However, since the inception of the term, there have been many conceptualisations and operationalisations of resilience (Cosco et al 2016). At the core of this framework is some form of adversity and a positive response to this adversity.…”

Resilience in Clinical Care: Getting a Grip on the Recovery Potential of Older Adults

“…In addition, the various stressors eliciting the functional decline were—if specified in the first place—not quantified. Last, the outcomes studied were often single and dichotomous (ie, recovery or no recovery) while multidimensional and quantified outcomes are much more relevant …”

“…How : Use existing longitudinal data sets to demonstrate proof of concept of predicting resilience in settings relevant to clinical care Prospectively study proof of concept, feasibility, and effectiveness of dynamical resilience measurements. Collaborate with the target population and healthcare professionals to maximize chances of wide and sustained implementation in clinical practice. Develop normative reference data sets for specific resilience indicators and reference information on their behavior over time, in different settings (stressed/unstressed) and different populations (high‐functioning/frail older adults). Develop and execute a research agenda on how to characterize and empirically capture the type and intensity of health stressors. Define and analyze relationships between parameters of physical, mental, and social functioning. …”

Successful ageing, depression and resilience research; a call for a priori approaches to investigations of resilience

“…A review of operational definitions of resilience in longitudinal studies indeed demonstrates that several have been in use (Cosco et al 2017), which may lead to conceptual confusion. Different operational definitions of resilience include resilience as measured with resilience metrics, data driven latent variable models and a priori established criteria of resilience.…”

“…Different operational definitions of resilience include resilience as measured with resilience metrics, data driven latent variable models and a priori established criteria of resilience. At first glance, all three approaches may have their strengths and limitations (Cosco et al 2017). But we believe that an a priori approach to establishing criteria for inferring the presence of resilience has at least two important merits, which have implications for incorporating resilience in the study of depression.…”