What is resilience? An Integrative Review of the empirical literature

Abstract

Despite the increasing use of the term 'resilience', this review has identified that there is no universal definition of resilience adopted in the research literature. Further research is required to explore this construct in the context of nursing.

Resilience, risk, mental health and well-being: associations and conceptual differences

“…A recent review of the definitions and conceptualizations of resilience in the health-related empirical literature published between January 2000 and April 2015 with a primary focus on resilience identified five overlapping, nonexclusive key themes [11]. Thereby resilience was alternatively described as follows:…”

“…Given the apparent, possibly inherent difficulties in precisely framing or grasping the concept of resilience, its measurement is often indirect, using presence or absence of mental disorders or symptoms as a proxy despite the many other features related to resilience [11]. In a recent review, Ungar [22, p. 4] explicates this indirect method of measurement: 'Resilience is most commonly understood to be present if no disorder is diagnosed (exposure has had minimal impact), if disorder was previously present and the individual is recovering, or the individual exceeds expectations and is functioning better than before exposure to a potentially traumatizing event'.…”

“…In the early 2000s, resilience was broadly defined as 'resistance to disease' 1 [7, p. 27] or 'the capacity to cope with adversity and to avoid continuously criticized the lack of a universal definition of each construct and the indistinct use of both terms. Furthermore, the need for more research into these concepts in and across various contexts, such as children and adolescents, the elderly, patients, employees, or soldiers, has been repeatedly voiced [11][12][13][14][15][16]. As other concepts frequently co-occur with these terms, in particular risk, protective (or promotive) factors as well as mental health, such research should also take their similarities and differences into account when defining resilience and well-being.…”

Personal Resilience for Diagnostic Radiographer Healthcare Education: Lost in Translation?

“…This dynamic aspect of resilience can be seen (for example) in someone who is resilient in one situation but struggles in another, or where resilience varies from day to day, or even hour to hour (Aburn, Gott, and Hoare 2016). Howe, Smajdor, and Stockl (2012) would agree, and comment that as a dynamic capability resilience can allow one to thrive but that this depends also on the social and personal contexts being satisfactory.…”

Fatores de estresse, sintomas depressivos, suporte social e resiliência associados ao desempenho acadêmico em estudantes de enfermagem

“…Todavia, ainda existem inúmeros desafios a serem superados para compreensão da resiliência entre estudantes de enfermagem. Um conceito voltado para o contexto do estudante de enfermagem, que vivencia situações adversas em todo processo de formação, ainda precisa ser melhor esclarecido, não existindo um conceito único entre os estudos (Thomas, Revell, 2016;Aburn, Gott, Hoare, 2016). Ainda, estratégias de apoio para fortalecimento da resiliência entre esses estudantes, desde o início da graduação pode ser um ponto de partida útil para superar os desafios durante o curso de enfermagem (Tower et al, 2015).…”