Resilience to early family risk moderates stress-affect associations: A 14-day ecological momentary assessment study

Resilience to Stress and Adversity: A Narrative Review of the Role of Positive Affect

“… 20 In addition, a small number of studies have examined whether a given form of adversity can moderate its own impact (or the impact of other forms of adversity) on positive affect, with mixed findings. There is evidence that the negative effects of one stressor can be compounded by those of another stressor, 15 , 23 , 37 but there is also evidence of curvilinear relationships whereby a low or moderate level of adversity (either concurrently or in one’s past) can be protective of positive affect, relative to no adversity or high levels of adversity. 35 , 45 , 49 The latter findings concur with the literature on stress inoculation and post-traumatic growth, 96 , 97 reminding us of the formative role that hardship can play in the development of mental health and fortitude.…”

“…This study also found that greater physical activity (since the last experience sample) predicted a weaker correlation between current stress and current negative affect (but not current positive affect), but this interaction was evident only for those who rated their past experiences of major life events as less severely stressful. In addition, the aforementioned studies by Nurius et al 15 and Tung et al 23 also shed light on the interaction between past and present stressors. Nurius et al 15 observed a stronger association between adult adversity and psychological distress among those who recalled greater childhood adversity, although this interaction effect was not found with perceived wellbeing as the outcome.…”

“…Nurius et al 15 observed a stronger association between adult adversity and psychological distress among those who recalled greater childhood adversity, although this interaction effect was not found with perceived wellbeing as the outcome. Similarly, Tung et al 23 found that higher daily stress was associated with greater negative affect more strongly in the vulnerable group than in the resilient or control groups, but there was no such moderation of the association between daily stress and positive affect.…”

“…In a sample of 255 Korean unwed mothers, Kang et al 13 found that a higher number of recalled ACEs was associated with greater perceived discrimination, which in turn was associated with lower wellbeing, especially among those with lower trait resilience. In addition, in a study of 98 Australia-based university students, Tung et al 23 divided the participants into three categories: control (few ACEs, low depression and anxiety), vulnerable (more ACEs, low trait resilience), and resilient (more ACEs, high trait resilience). The vulnerable group (who had lower trait resilience) reported lower positive affect than the control group and higher negative affect than the other two groups, while the resilient group (who had higher trait resilience) did not differ from the control group in positive affect.…”

Using Ecological Momentary Assessments to Study How Daily Fluctuations in Psychological States Impact Stress, Well-Being, and Health

“…Further, stress levels are affected both by the number and severity of stressors experienced, along with a wide range of psychological states. Resilience, or how well people manage stressors, is associated with less negative affect in response to stressors (as assessed by EMAs), specifically in individuals who have experienced early life stress [ 33 ].…”