Article Version of Record

Integrative review of the recent literature on human resilience: From concepts, theories, and discussions towards a complex understanding

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Métais, Clément
Burel, Nicolas
Gillham, Jane E.
Tarquinio, Cyril
Martin-Krumm, Charles

Abstract / Description

: Resilience may be viewed as the capacity of an individual, or perhaps of a dynamic system, to adjust and adapt positively to adversities and disruptions that impact one’s functioning and development. Yet a common statement in the literature is that there are still today numerous ways of defining and conceiving resilience. This multiplicity of approaches calls for clarification and generates a need of common theoretical ground. Therefore, this review aims to examine, to clarify and to synthesize how “human” resilience is conceptualized within the recent human sciences literature to help answer the question: ‘What are the key approaches, concepts, and definitions of resilience?”. Following Whittemore and Knafl (2005, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03621.x) methods, an integrative review of the recent resilience literature (2013–2019) was undertaken. Four databases were used for the search: PsycINFO, PubMed, ERIC, Google Scholar. A reference and citation tracking was then performed on the papers identified. Sixty-nine papers passed all the stages (identification, screening, eligibility, inclusion) and formed the sample. Results show that resilience definitions are nowadays either about “adapting and bouncing back to previous levels of health” or about “thriving and rising above the adversity towards increased levels of health.” Results also show that resilience features—antecedents, mechanisms, consequences—are mainly conceptualized in a vertical sequence where an antecedent influences another or influences a mechanism leading to consequences. This paper concludes that modern conceptions can fit within a transactional and constructivist approach that goes beyond the former approaches by providing a more nuanced and realistic picture of the resilience process and by viewing it as a dynamic and person-situation-defined process.

Keyword(s)

resilience ecological approach transactional approach integrative methods

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2022-02-25

Journal title

Europe's Journal of Psychology

Volume

18

Issue

1

Page numbers

98–119

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Métais, C., Burel, N., Gillham, J. E., Tarquinio, C., & Martin-Krumm, C. (2022). Integrative review of the recent literature on human resilience: From concepts, theories, and discussions towards a complex understanding. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 18(1), 98-119. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.2251
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Métais, Clément
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Burel, Nicolas
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Gillham, Jane E.
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Tarquinio, Cyril
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Martin-Krumm, Charles
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2022-04-14T11:20:35Z
  • Made available on
    2022-04-14T11:20:35Z
  • Date of first publication
    2022-02-25
  • Abstract / Description
    : Resilience may be viewed as the capacity of an individual, or perhaps of a dynamic system, to adjust and adapt positively to adversities and disruptions that impact one’s functioning and development. Yet a common statement in the literature is that there are still today numerous ways of defining and conceiving resilience. This multiplicity of approaches calls for clarification and generates a need of common theoretical ground. Therefore, this review aims to examine, to clarify and to synthesize how “human” resilience is conceptualized within the recent human sciences literature to help answer the question: ‘What are the key approaches, concepts, and definitions of resilience?”. Following Whittemore and Knafl (2005, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03621.x) methods, an integrative review of the recent resilience literature (2013–2019) was undertaken. Four databases were used for the search: PsycINFO, PubMed, ERIC, Google Scholar. A reference and citation tracking was then performed on the papers identified. Sixty-nine papers passed all the stages (identification, screening, eligibility, inclusion) and formed the sample. Results show that resilience definitions are nowadays either about “adapting and bouncing back to previous levels of health” or about “thriving and rising above the adversity towards increased levels of health.” Results also show that resilience features—antecedents, mechanisms, consequences—are mainly conceptualized in a vertical sequence where an antecedent influences another or influences a mechanism leading to consequences. This paper concludes that modern conceptions can fit within a transactional and constructivist approach that goes beyond the former approaches by providing a more nuanced and realistic picture of the resilience process and by viewing it as a dynamic and person-situation-defined process.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Métais, C., Burel, N., Gillham, J. E., Tarquinio, C., & Martin-Krumm, C. (2022). Integrative review of the recent literature on human resilience: From concepts, theories, and discussions towards a complex understanding. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 18(1), 98-119. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.2251
  • ISSN
    1841-0413
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/5343
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.5947
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.2251
  • Is related to
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.5422
  • Keyword(s)
    resilience
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    ecological approach
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    transactional approach
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    integrative methods
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Integrative review of the recent literature on human resilience: From concepts, theories, and discussions towards a complex understanding
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    1
  • Journal title
    Europe's Journal of Psychology
  • Page numbers
    98–119
  • Volume
    18
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record
    en_US