Everyone knows that resilience is important in coping
with misfortune. However, it may be more important than I had thought.
My attention was grabbed recently by a newspaper article
discussing a study suggesting that people with higher levels of resilience may
live up to 10 years longer. The study was discussed in an
article (possibly gated) by Lucy Dean in the Australian Financial Review
(8 Sept, 2024) which also draws on an interview with Justine Gatt, director
of the Centre for Wellbeing, Resilience and Recovery at UNSW and Neuroscience
Research Australia.
The Longevity Study
The findings of the study by Aijie Zhang et al were published in an
article entitled ‘Association between psychological resilience and all-cause
mortality in the Health and Retirement Study’, in BMJ Mental Health (2024;27:e301064).
The study
was based on the experience of 10,569 U.S. adults aged ≥50 (mean chronological age 67 years ) in the Health and Retirement Study
(2006–2008). Mortality outcomes were determined using records up to May 2021. During
that period, 3,489 all-cause deaths were recorded.
The questionnaire
used to measure resilience covered qualities such as perseverance, calmness, a
sense of purpose, self-reliance and the recognition that certain experiences
must be faced alone.
After
adjusting for potential confounding factors, the researchers observed a
decrease in the risk of death by 38% in the quartile with higher
psychological resilience scores, compared with the group with the lowest scores.
The authors
note that their findings are consistent with studies that have shown a
significant positive correlation between life goals and self-rated health, with
life goals moderating the relationship between self-rated health and mortality.
Maintaining a positive self-perception of ageing has a positive effect on
functional health, and optimism independently protects against all-cause
mortality. Other studies demonstrate that individuals with poor social
relationships have an increased risk of death.
The
Compass Wellbeing Scale
Justine Gatt
leads a
project which aims to identify the underlying markers of wellbeing and to
improve understanding of the underlying mechanisms that contribute towards
resilience to stress and adversity.
In this
project, mental wellbeing is measured using the 26-item COMPAS‑W Wellbeing
Scale which provides a “composite” measure of wellbeing; that is, a measure of both
subjective (hedonia) and psychological wellbeing.
The COMPAS‑W
scale encompasses measures of composure, own-worth, mastery, positivity,
achievement and satisfaction. The existence of a relationship between
the Compass scale and resilience is based on the view that factors associated
with resilience, include:
- The capacity to make realistic
plans and take steps to carry them out
- A positive view of yourself and
confidence in your strengths and abilities
- Skills in communication and
problem solving
- The capacity to manage strong
feelings and impulses
- A feeling that you are a master
of your environment and in control
- A general positive outlook on
your life and satisfaction with everything you have achieved
Justine Gatt
argues these are skills that people can learn and develop for themselves.
The research
on resilience is ongoing, but the qualities encompassed in the Compass scale are
obviously worth fostering.