Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Resilience: Definitions, Ambiguities, and Applications

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Resilience in Aging

Abstract

Resilience has been defined as a dynamic process of maintaining positive adaptation and effective coping strategies in the face of adversity (Luthar et al. 2000). Although most scholars and members of the general public have an intuitive understanding of resilience, ambiguities in definition, measurement, and application contribute to scientific criticism regarding the usefulness of resilience as a theoretical construct (Kaplan 1999; Tolan 1996). Previous reviews have addressed ambiguities and limitations of the research literature with a focus on children and adolescents facing adversity (Luthar et al. 2000). These authors call for greater research attention on resilience at different points in human development. This chapter focuses on the definition, ambiguity, and application of the construct of resilience across the adult lifespan as it relates to successful aging (see Chap. 2). Other chapters throughout this book focus on various domains of resilience including genetic, physical, and personality (see Chaps. 3 and 6), emotional (see Chap. 5), creative (see Chap. 7), and spiritual (see Chap. 11). Our goal in this initial chapter is to describe and define resilience as it relates to older adults and to operationalize this construct across various domains. In so doing, we expand the critical review provided by Luthar et al. (2000) to adult development and aging. Additionally, we address three controversies evident in our review of the literature on the construct of resilience within adult development and aging.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ai, A., & Park, C. (2005) Possibilities of the positive following violence and trauma: Informing the coming decade of research. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 20, 242–250.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, R.S., Hilgeman, M.M., Ege, M.A., Shuster, J.L., Jr., & Burgio, L.D. (2008) Legacy activities as interventions approaching the end of life. Journal of Palliative Medicine , 11(7), 1029–1038.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arnett, J.J. (2000) Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the 20s. American Psychologist, 55, 469–480.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bartlett, D.W. (1994) On resilience: Questions of validity. In M.C. Wang & E.W. Gordon (Eds.), Educational resilience in inner-city America: Challenges and prospects (pp. 97–108). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, G. & Newsom, E. (2005) Resilience in the face of serious illness among chronically ill African Americans in later life. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences , 60B(4), S214–S223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belle, S.H., Burgio, L., Burns, R., Coon, D., Czaja, S.J., Gallagher-Thompson, D., et al. (2006) Enhancing the quality of life of dementia caregivers from different ethnic or racial groups. Annals of Internal Medicine , 145, 727–738.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boyce, W.T., Chesney, M.A., Alkon, A., Tschann, J.M., Adams, S., Chesterman, B., et al. (1995) Psychobiologic reactivity to stress and childhood respiratory illness: Results of two prospective studies. Psychosomatic Medicine , 57, 411–422.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bugental, D.B. (2005)Risk versus thriving in the face of early medical adversity. Paper presented at the Meetings of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cacioppo, J.T., Hawkley, L.C., & Berntson, G.G. (2003) The anatomy of loneliness. Current Directions in Psychological Science , 12(3), 71–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caregiving in the U.S. (2004) National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP. April 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chochinov, H.M., Hack, T., Hassard, T., Kristjanson, L.J., McClement, S., & Harlos, M. (2005) Dignity therapy: A novel psychotherapeutic intervention for patients near the end of life. Journal of Clinical Oncology , 23, 5520–5525.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Craig, A.D. (2002) How do you feel? Interoception: The sense of the physiological condition of the body. Nature Reviews Neuroscience , 3, 655–666.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dienstbier, R.A. (1989) Arousal and physiological toughness: Implications for mental and physical health. Psychological Review, 96(1), 84–100.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Doll, B., & Lyon, M.A. (1998) Risk and resilience: Implications for the delivery of education and mental health services in schools. School Psychology Review, 27(3), 348–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drolet, G., Dumont, E.C., Gosselin, I., Kinkead, R., Laforest, S., Trottier, J.F. (2001) Role of endogenous opioid system in the regulation of the stress response. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry , 25, 729–741.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E.H. (1950) Childhood and society. Oxford, England: Norton and Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E.H., & Erikson, J.M. (1997) The life cycle completed: Extended version. New York, NY: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folkman, S. (1997) Positive psychological states and coping with severe stress. Social Science and Medicine , 45, 1207–1221.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Folkman, S. (2008) The case for positive emotions in the stress process. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 21(1), 3–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Folkman, S. (2009) Commentary on the special section “Theory Based Approaches to Stress and Coping”: Questions, answers, issues and next steps in stress and coping research. European Psychologist , 14(1), 72–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franco, O.H., Karnik, K., Osborne, G., Ordovas, J.M., Catt, M., & van der Ouderaa, F. (2009) Changing course in ageing research: The healthy ageing phenotype. Maturitas , 63, 13–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, E.W., & Song, L.D. (1994) Variations in the experience of resilience. In M.C. Wang & E.W. Gordon (Eds.), Educational resilience in inner-city America: Challenges and prospects (pp. 27–43). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkley, L.C., Bernston, G.G., Engeland, C.G., Marucha, P.T., Masi, C.M., & Cacioppo, J.T. (2005) Stress, aging, and resilience: Can accrued wear and tear be slowed? Canadian Psychology, 46(3), 115–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkley, L.C., Preacher, K.J., & Cacioppo, J.T. (2007) Multilevel modeling of social interactions and mood in lonely and socially connected individuals: The MacArthur social neuroscience studies. In A.D. Ong & M. van Dulmen (Eds.), Oxford handbook of methods in positive psychology (pp. 559–575). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hilgeman, M.M., Allen, R.S., DeCoster, J., & Burgio, L.D. (2007) Positive aspects of caregiving as a moderator of treatment outcome over 12 months. Psychology and Aging, 22, 361–371.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jabbi, M., Kema, I.P., van der Pompe, G., te Meerman, G.J., Ormel, J., & den Boer, J.A. (2007) Catechol-o-methyltransferase polymorphism and susceptibility to major depressive disorder modulates psychological stress response. Psychiatric Genetics, 17(3), 183–193.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, H.B. (1999) Toward an understanding of resilience: A critical review of definitions and models. In M.D. Glantz & J.R. Johnson (Eds.), Resilience and development: Positive life adaptations (pp. 17–83). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H.G. (1997) Is religion good for your health? The effects of religion on physical and mental health. Binghampton, New York: Haworth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H.G. (1998) Religious attitudes and practices of hospitalized medically ill older adults. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 13, 213–224.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lamond, A.J., Depp, C.A., Allison, M., Langer, R., Reichstadt, J., Moore, D.J., et al. (2009) Measurement and predictors of resilience among community-dwelling older women. Journal of Psychiatric Research , 43, 148–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langer, N. (2004) Resiliency and spirituality: Foundations of strengths perspective counseling with the elderly. Educational Gerontology, 30, 611–617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R.S., & Folkman, S. (1984)Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichstein, K.L., Durrence, H.H., Riedel, B.W., Taylor, D.J., & Bush, A.J. (2004) Epidemiology of sleep: Age, gender, and ethnicity. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luthar, S.S., Cicchetti, D., Becker, B. (2000) The construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child Development, 71(3), 543–562.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McAdams, D.P. (2001) The psychology of life stories. Review of General Psychology , 5, 100–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAdams, D.P., & Pals, J.L. (2006) A new big five: Fundamental principles for an integrative science of personality. American Psychologist, 61, 204–217.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McEwen, B.S. (1998) Stress, adaptation, and disease. Allostasis and allostatic load. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 840, 33–44.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McEwen, B.S. (2003) Interacting mediators of allostasis and allostatic load: Towards an understanding of resilience in aging.Metabolism, 52(10 Suppl 2), 10–16.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pampel, F.C., & Rogers, R.G. (2004). Socioeconomic status, smoking, and health: A test of competing theories of cumulative advantage. Health and Social Behavior, 45, 306–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K.I. (1997)The psychology of religion and coping: Theory, research, practice. New York: Guilford Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K.I., Kennell, J., Hathaway, W., Grevengoed, N., Newman, J., & Jones, W. (1988) Religion and the problem-solving process: Three styles of coping. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion,27, 90–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K.I., Koenig, H.G., Perez, L.M. (2000) The many methods of religious coping: Development and initial validation of the RCOPE. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56(4), 519–543.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K.I., Smith, B.W., Koenig, H.G., & Perez, L. (1998) Patterns of positive and negative religious coping with major life stressors. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37(4), 710–724.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearlin, L.I., & Skaff, M.M. (1996) Stress and the life course: A paradigmatic alliance. The Gerontologist, 36, 239–247.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, R.E., Pargament, K.I., Lynn, Q.K., & Crossley, C.D. (2004) Self-directing religious coping: A deistic God, abandoning God, or no God at all? Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 43, 409–418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart, M., & Sorensen, S. (2003) Predictors of burden and depressive mood: A meta-analysis. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 58, P112–P128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ribeiro, S.C., Kennedy, S.E., Smith, Y.R., Stohler, C.S., Zubieta, J.K. (2005) Interface of physical and emotional stress regulation through the endogenous opioid system and mu-opioid receptors. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 29, 1264–1280.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, G.E. (2002) The metatheory of resilience and resiliency. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58, 307–321.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roff, L.L., Klemmack, D.L., Parker, M., Koenig, H.G., Crowther, M., Baker, P.S., & Allman, R.M. (2004) Depression and religiosity in African American and White community-dwelling older adults. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment 10(1), 175–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sapolsky, R.M., Romero, L.M., & Munck, A.U. (2000) How do glucocorticoids influence stress responses? Integrating permissive, suppressive, stimulatory, and preparative actions. Endocrine Review, 21(1), 55–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sterling, P., & Eyer, J. (1988) Allostasis: A new paradigm to explain arousal pathology. In S. Fisher & J. Reason (Eds.), Handbook of life stress, cognition, and health (pp. 629–649). New York, NY: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tepe, V. & Lukey, B.J. (2008) Biobehavioral resilience to stress. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Tolan, P.T. (1996) How resilient is the concept of resilience?The Community Psychologist 29, 12–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagnild, G.M., & Young, H.M. (1993) Development and psychometric evaluation of the resilience scale. Journal of Nursing Measurement 1, 165–178.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong-McDonald, A., & Gorsuch, R.L. (2000) Surrender to God: An additional coping style? Journal of Psychology and Theology, 28, 149–161.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

    Rebecca S. Allen

Authors
  1. Rebecca S. Allen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Philip P. Haley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Grant M. Harris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stevie N. Fowler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Roopwinder Pruthi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebecca S. Allen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, 21201, Maryland, USA

    Barbara Resnick

  2. Center for the Study of Aging and Human, Duke University, Durham, 27710, North Carolina, USA

    Lisa P. Gwyther

  3. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State, Center for Gerontology, Blacksburg, 24061, Virginia, USA

    Karen A. Roberto

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Allen, R.S., Haley, P.P., Harris, G.M., Fowler, S.N., Pruthi, R. (2011). Resilience: Definitions, Ambiguities, and Applications. In: Resnick, B., Gwyther, L., Roberto, K. (eds) Resilience in Aging. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0232-0_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0232-0_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-0231-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-0232-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation