Harnessing psychological resilience to support mental health and quality of life in older adulthood | Life

BY DR. VICTORIA EWEN

   DESPITE the many stressors and changes that accompany aging, many people continue to lead happy, healthy, and meaningful lives well into older adulthood. Those who thrive despite these challenges often demonstrate a trait known as psychological resilience. The American Psychological Association defines psychological resilience as “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.” In simpler terms, it’s the ability to “bounce back” from adversity.

As you might expect from this definition, high levels of resilience are linked to a range of positive life outcomes. Research shows that people with greater resilience, including older adults, tend to experience better mental health, physical health, quality of life, and overall life satisfaction. While many of these findings are correlational—meaning that a good life might lead to higher resilience rather than the other way around—it’s likely a bidirectional relationship: both influencing each other.

Assuming that increasing resilience can improve our lives, a key question remains: what makes a person resilient? While factors like effective coping strategies and strong social support are often associated with resilience, many other elements play a role. So what, exactly, is resilience?

One insightful way to understand resilience in older adulthood is to ask older adults themselves. One study did just that and identified several key components of resilience in later life, including:

* Perseverance and Determination: the ability to keep going despite challenges

* Self-Efficacy: the belief in one’s own capabilities

* Purpose and Meaning: a sense that your actions have significance

* Positive Perspective: the ability to find positives even in difficulty

* Sense of Community and Social Support: meaningful, supportive relationships

While resilience is clearly complex and multi-dimensional, researchers agree on one important point: it can be developed. For those who may not be naturally resilient—perhaps due to inherited mental health challenges or past trauma—there are practical ways to strengthen resilience and make coping with stress more manageable. Below are some suggestions to enhance the key components of resilience:

Positive Perspective. Developing mindful awareness of enjoyable experiences and intentionally incorporating more of them into your day can foster a more positive outlook. Another useful strategy is gratitude journaling—regularly noting things you’re thankful for—to help counteract the brain’s natural tendency to focus on the negative.

Perseverance and Self-Efficacy. Try practicing approach-based coping—facing challenges directly rather than avoiding them. This might begin with something as simple as talking or writing about a stressor. Reflecting on past successes can also reinforce your sense of capability, as can continuing to try new, manageable challenges.

Purpose and Meaning. Clarify your values—the kind of person you want to be and how you’d like to be seen by others. Engage in activities aligned with those values and reduce involvement in those that aren’t. Living according to your values can bring a greater sense of purpose and direction.

Social Support. Make time for the people who matter to you, and actively nurture those connections. This might require flexibility—such as using technology to stay in touch—or improving your communication skills. Think about what support you need and take deliberate steps to ensure it’s there when you need it.

Ultimately, resilience is a dynamic and multi-faceted concept. Don’t be discouraged by the many ways it can be built. Instead, start by identifying one area where you might be struggling and focus your efforts there. In the face of life’s ongoing challenges, investing in your resilience is always worthwhile.

Generation Conversations is a monthly column alternating focus on children and seniors mental health to create awareness and offer knowledge of relevant issues and practical suggestions. The column is shared by Staci Person (children) and Victoria Ewen (seniors), psychologists at Sullivan and Associates Clinical Psychology. It appears on the Healthstyle page on the fourth Tuesday of each month.