Developing a model of resilience in older adulthood: a qualitative meta-synthesis

Abstract

The study of resilience in an older adult population is expanding rapidly. However, most theoretical models of resilience have been developed with children or young to middle-aged adults. The objective of the present study was to review systematically the qualitative literature examining resilience in older adults, and to develop a comprehensive model of resilience in older adulthood. A qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted to review the qualitative literature examining resilience from older adults’ perspectives. An exhaustive search of the literature revealed 1,752 articles. From these articles, 34 studies meeting inclusion criteria were selected for analysis. Across the 34 studies analysed, eight themes were revealed as important for achieving resilience later in life: perseverance and determination, self-efficacy and independence, purpose and meaning, positive perspective, social support, faith and prayer, previous experience and being proactive. These themes can be organised into a four-factor model: (a) Intrapersonal Protective Factors; (b) Interpersonal Protective Factors; (c) Spiritual Protective Factors; and (d) Experiential Protective Factors. This study presents a new model of resilience in older adulthood that is grounded in qualitative literature and is relevant and appropriate for an older adult population. This research may be useful for clinicians, support workers and researchers working with older individuals through improving our understanding of what contributes to resilience later in life.

Stressful Life Events and Resilience During the COVID-19 Lockdown Measures in Italy: Association With Mental Health Outcomes and Age

“…In contrast, younger individuals show slightly higher social support, in the context of reduced overall resilience levels. According to a recent systematic review, resilience in older adults could be operationalized as a 4-dimension construct, that includes intrapersonal, interpersonal, spiritual and experiential protective factors ( 9 ). It is noteworthy that these factors are differentially associated with age or environmental circumstances, being interpersonal factors the most volatile over time and spiritual and experiential factors being associated with older age.…”

Assessing Resilience in Older Adulthood: Development and Validation of the Resilience Scale for Older Adults

“…Similarly, social support has been identified as a key protective factor across the lifespan (Masten & Wright, 2009) and may be particularly relevant to resilience in later life (Wilson et al, 2020), however, this factor is severely under-represented in existing measures (i.e., CD-RISC; Connor & Davidson, 2003) or not represented at all (i.e., RS; Wagnild & Young, 1993). Last, the RSOA includes a Spiritual factor, which is frequently mentioned as a relevant component of resilience described by older adults (e.g., Kinsel, 2005), but again, is infrequently included in other measures of resilience.…”

“…One means of achieving this is by asking older adults what resilience means to them (Wild et al, 2013). Thus, the RSOA was developed using a model of resilience protective factors grounded in the qualitative literature examining resilience from older adults' perspectives (Wilson et al, 2020). This model comprises four overarching factors and eight underlying facets; however, to enhance precision in assessment, the RSOA consists of four factors and 11 underlying facets.…”

“…Future research needs to validate the RSOA with more diverse samples (e.g., ethnically diverse, lower socioeconomic status, individuals with disabilities, non-community dwelling individuals). Further, while the RSOA is based on a model developed from research conducted with several diverse samples across a number of countries (Wilson et al, 2020), it remains unknown whether the RSOA generalizes to non-Western samples. Last, the present studies are cross-sectional in nature, and longitudinal studies are needed to examine the predictive utility of the RSOA.…”

“…Given the qualitatively distinct challenges faced in older adulthood (e.g., death of spouse and friends, loss of social standing, declines in physical functioning; Smith & Hayslip, 2012), it is necessary to develop an assessment tool that is specifically designed to measure resilience during later life. Thus, this study draws upon a theoretical model of resilience protective factors in older adulthood (Wilson, Walker, & Saklofske, 2020) with the aim of developing a resilience scale for older adults.…”