Addressing psychological resilience during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a rapid review

Abstract

Purpose of review The mental health toll on populations exposed to COVID-19 is alarming, and there is a need to address this with urgency. This current review provides insights on how individuals, communities, and specific populations, such as healthcare workers and patients are leveraging pre-COVID-19 and peri-COVID-19 factors to reinforce their psychological resilience during the global public health crisis. Recent findings Examination of the extant literature indicated that populations around the world rely often on support from their loved-ones, closed significant others, outdoor and physical activities, and spirituality to cope with the COVID-19-related distress. Increased sense of meaning/purpose since the COVID-19 pandemic was also reported. Summary A portion of publications provided intervention models to reinforce resilience among specific populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, it is not convincing that some of these models can be applied universally. Additionally, it is important to note that in this category, translational data was scarce.

Resilience, Coping Strategies and Posttraumatic Growth in the Workplace Following COVID-19: A Narrative Review on the Positive Aspects of Trauma

“…Even after experiencing terrible events, the evidence suggests that people may experience some positive aspects, such as in the case of bereavement, rape, cancer, terrorism, natural disasters and even epidemics, as in the case of the MERS outbreak [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. The ability to adapt to unpleasant situations and to recover quickly from trauma has been studied through the constructs of resilience, posttraumatic growth (PTG) and coping strategies [ 11 , 12 , 14 , 18 , 19 ]. Research has not yet reached unanimous agreement on the definition and conceptualization of resilience.…”

“…Hence, the literature shows that the aftermath of tragic events can have a positive impact in terms of personal growth and meaning, suggesting that resilient attitudes may be more prevalent than expected [ 11 , 12 , 15 , 18 ]. In this regard, Bonanno [ 12 ] challenged the grief work assumption, arguing that the most common reaction to highly traumatic events are not symptoms of distress such as PTSD and depression as much as resilience.…”

Prevalence and factors associated with psychological burden in COVID-19 patients and their relatives: A prospective observational cohort study

“…A meta-analysis including longitudinal as well as cross-sectional studies evaluating correlations between resilience and mental health showed that resilience is negatively correlated to negative indicators of mental health, such as depression, anxiety and negative affect, and positively correlated to positive indicators of mental health, such as life satisfaction and positive affect [52]. Further, a review on the role of resilience as a protective factor regarding anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that "resilient" coping strategies to deal with COVID-19-related distress are common [53]. However, evidence on the nature of the association of resilience and psychological distress is still inconclusive [54][55][56] and more research is needed to identify effective interventions [53].…”

“…Further, a review on the role of resilience as a protective factor regarding anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that "resilient" coping strategies to deal with COVID-19-related distress are common [53]. However, evidence on the nature of the association of resilience and psychological distress is still inconclusive [54][55][56] and more research is needed to identify effective interventions [53]. Dorman-Ilan et al [32] found that relatives who did not feel protected by the hospital might suffer from increased anxiety even one month after patients' discharge.…”

“…Low use of adaptive defense mechanisms, e.g., humor and self-assertion to regulate one’s emotions was associated with heightened levels of anxiety, depression and symptoms of PTSD [ 39 ]. In the context of potentially protective coping mechanisms, resilience, often defined as the ability to successfully cope with adverse life events, might also be related to psychological distress [ 52 ] and is potentially modifiable [ 53 ]. A meta-analysis including longitudinal as well as cross-sectional studies evaluating correlations between resilience and mental health showed that resilience is negatively correlated to negative indicators of mental health, such as depression, anxiety and negative affect, and positively correlated to positive indicators of mental health, such as life satisfaction and positive affect [ 52 ].…”