Resilience & Growth

Question 1

What is resilience?

Answer 1

Resilience is defined in various ways, but common themes include:
● Maintenance, recovery, or improvement in health following a challenge. (Ryff et al., 2012)
● Good outcomes despite serious threats to adaptation or development or “ordinary magic.” (Masten, 2001)
● Successful adaptation to adversity, with emphasis given to recovery (how people bounce back from challenges) and sustainability (the capacity to continue forward in the face of adversity). (Reich et al., 2010)

Question 2

What are some early examples of resilience?

Answer 2

○ Many children of mentally ill parents do not develop mental illness or behavioral problems.
○ Many low-SES children grow up to be competent, caring adults.
○ Many adults adapt to inevitable stressors.
○ People do not become miserable with old age and its challenges.

Question 3

Resilience (as a Process)

Answer 3

Resilience is now understood as a process triggered by challenges, rather than an individual difference.
● These challenges can be chronic (like low SES) or specific events (like a disaster).

Question 4

Resilient Outcomes

Answer 4

● Resilient outcomes are broad and encompass many dimensions of mental health, considered in relation to the degree of challenge.
● Using trajectories over time, most people are resilient (~65% across many ‘event’ studies).

Question 5

What factors predict resilience?

Answer 5

What factors predict resilience?
● A variety of protective factors have been identified, including:
○ Less direct exposure to, or duration of, the challenge.
○ Positive emotionality and emotional stability.
○ Optimism and positive thoughts.
○ Sense of control (mastery, self-efficacy).
○ Intelligence and high SES.
○ Religion and faith.
○ Social support.
○ Problem-focused and positive reinterpretation coping.

Question 6

Past Experience

Answer 6

● A history of severe trauma and mental illness predicts poor responses to new challenges.
● However, exposure to some moderate challenge might be protective:
○ Squirrel monkey studies
○ A curvilinear link exists between adversity and mental health
○ Older individuals often recover more quickly from challenges than children

Question 7

What is post-traumatic growth (PTG)?

Answer 7

PTG refers to the positive psychological changes that some individuals experience following trauma. It involves a sense of reconstructing the self, finding meaning, and strengthening relationships.

Question 8

How is PTG measured?

Answer 8

PTG is typically measured with self-report questionnaires like the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), which assesses changes in areas such as relating to others, personal strength, new possibilities, appreciation of life, and spiritual change

Question 9

What is the difference between perceived and actual growth?

Answer 9

○ Perceived growth refers to an individual’s subjective belief that they have experienced positive changes following trauma.
○ Actual growth involves demonstrable improvements in well-being or functioning that can be objectively measured. Research suggests that perceived change may not always align with actual changes.

Question 10

Should we encourage PTG?

Answer 10

There is debate about whether it is appropriate to encourage PTG. While actual growth is positive, it is not clear how to facilitate it. Interventions focused on growth can sometimes backfire. However, perceptions of growth might be a beneficial coping strategy, despite mixed evidence regarding their long-term effects on distress.