Resilience: An Integrated Review

Abstract

Resilience is a phenomenon discussed by scholars in many disciplines; it holds similar definitions across the human, social, and physical sciences. It is important to understand the phenomenon from a variety of disciplines. Therefore, the author of this article reviews the existing literature on resilience from the disciplines of psychology, sociology, philosophy, education, and nursing. The three themes that emerged from a thorough review of the existing literature were (a) hardiness strengthens the ability to harness resources, (b) regulatory flexibility fosters positive functioning, and (c) challenges enhance the ability to rebound.

Letters from the pandemic: Nursing student narratives of change, challenges and thriving at the outset of COVID‐19

“…Resilience has been described as a set of characteristics or behaviours that includes the ability to respond effectively, to adapt positively and to be flexible in the face of adversity. The outcomes of these features can be a move toward positive functioning, though not necessarily a return to pre‐adversity function, and eventually an adjustment to and accommodation of unpleasant feelings, thoughts, events or situations in the pursuit of a desired goal (Daly, 2020). Although many students in the present study mentioned mental health challenges, expressions related to finding ‘silver linings’ showed evidence of resilience, similar to the results in the Healthy Minds Study (American College Health Association, 2020).…”

Resilience in Adult Health Science Revisited—A Narrative Review Synthesis of Process-Oriented Approaches

“…The idea is that, during their lives, adults are exposed to enough stress that they learn how to overcome it. When faced with future adversities, someone can draw upon their prior experiences and utilize those strategies that have been successful in the past (see also Daly, 2020 ). This mechanism is sometimes called an “inoculating” or “steeling effect” (Rutter, 2012 ).…”

“…Cognitive or regulatory flexibility was another theme associated with resilience and support to foster a resilient adaptation process (Yao and Hsieh, 2019 ; Daly, 2020 ). Flexibility enables individuals to modify cognitive and behavioral strategies to respond accurately to changing environments (Dajani and Uddin, 2015 ; Whiting et al, 2017 ).…”

“…The concept of hardiness was also identified as important to reducing the impact of extreme stress (Bonanno, 2004 ; Daly, 2020 ). Hardiness has three dimensions: being committed to finding a purpose in life, having the belief in the power to influence or control surroundings and outcomes, and the belief that both positive and negative experiences promote growing and learning (Kobosa, 1979 ).…”

Promoting and Risk Factors of Nurses’ Hardiness Levels during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from an Italian Cohort

“…The concept of resilience is depicted by different disciplines through three main themes: hardiness, which increases the ability to use resources; regulatory flexibility, which promotes positive functioning; and challenges, which improve the capability to recover [18]. Hardiness can also be viewed as an antecedent of resilience; indeed, it is considered a means to achieve resilience, thus improving the protection from the impact of high levels of stress [18]. According to existential theory, hardiness is composed of attitudes or beliefs that constitute courage and motivation to deal with stressful events [19].…”