Why do some individuals seem to be able not only to survive when exposed to trauma, negative events, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, but also to grow and develop from these experiences? They seem to possess what some mental health professionals call psychological resiliency.
Studies in children have shown that some survivors of negative experiences, such as living in alcoholic, abusive, or impoverished environments develop a mental toughness. Research has found that they maintain a sense of humor and empathy toward others along with problem solving skills, such as the ability to plan, think creatively, and understand consequences. They develop a sense of independence early in their lives and believe that they are, to a large part, in control of the environment around them. They possess qualities of optimism and persistence and seem to be able to deflect unwarranted criticism.
Studies of psychologically resilient adults during middle adult years indicate that they deal more effectively with stress than non-resilient adults do. They feel that their efforts will influence the outcome of the objectives that they are pursuing. They reveal a commitment to the important things in their lives such as jobs, families, and health. A spiritual connectedness is observed in the majority of these individuals. Rather than feeling threatened, psychologically resilient adults are challenged by change and are generally free from pervasive distrust, cynicism, and hostility.
What about the role of stress and resiliency during the second half of life, age fifty and beyond? Stress is known to contribute to a variety of illnesses and can increase the negative effects of chronic illness. Some recent research has shown that stress may contribute to memory problems, especially in older people. The baby boomer generation should strive to increase their psychological resiliency and make it a major part of their health effort.
Stressors later in life are often due to bereavement from loss, change in social and career roles, and the advent of chronic illness with its subsequent limitations on daily activities. Other changes, such as retirement and children leaving the nest, also affect this older group.
In the absence of cognitive impairment, older adults tend to maintain their coping abilities. Priorities change with age and they are often able to decrease the number of things that concerned them in their younger years. This component of psychological resiliency is often referred to simply as "I'll let somebody else worry about those things now." Psychological resiliency in the second half of life is often due to surviving loss and adapting to change or having mastered many difficulties and learning from it. As one individual told me recently, "Anybody that can survive three cancer operations, bankruptcy, and divorce can survive anything." Due to their shift in priorities, "second-halfers" don't feel the need to exert control over the myriad of details, activities, and events that drove them earlier in life. Resilient second-halfers have developed and applied specific problem solving skills.
Psychological resiliency inoculates individuals to some degree from the effects of stress and should be added to the list of other health preservatives, such as healthy diet and exercise.
Copyright c 1996 Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D.
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