Chapter 14. How Resilient Are You, and Why Should You Build More Resilience?
Intro
Play this brief video introduction from one of your authors, Nathan DeWall.
Test Yourself
How resilient are you?
Please respond to each item by marking your level of agreement.
Question 14.1
1. I tend to bounce back quickly after hard times.
pCpXnkNk3Tgl4qXPpyETEHoy/T/nep8+ffjZhL8iyE+4i4B+FbF4AbZ0XJ33yGzYsDsI1UNtVq2yXEGkHFWhmQ==2. I have a hard time making it through stressful events.
pCpXnkNk3Tgl4qXPpyETEHoy/T/nep8+ffjZhL8iyE+4i4B+FbF4AbZ0XJ33yGzYsDsI1UNtVq2yXEGkHFWhmQ==3. It does not take me long to recover from a stressful event.
pCpXnkNk3Tgl4qXPpyETEHoy/T/nep8+ffjZhL8iyE+4i4B+FbF4AbZ0XJ33yGzYsDsI1UNtVq2yXEGkHFWhmQ==4. It is hard for me to snap back when something bad happens.
pCpXnkNk3Tgl4qXPpyETEHoy/T/nep8+ffjZhL8iyE+4i4B+FbF4AbZ0XJ33yGzYsDsI1UNtVq2yXEGkHFWhmQ==5. I usually come through difficult times with little trouble.
pCpXnkNk3Tgl4qXPpyETEHoy/T/nep8+ffjZhL8iyE+4i4B+FbF4AbZ0XJ33yGzYsDsI1UNtVq2yXEGkHFWhmQ==6. I tend to take a long time to get over setbacks in my life.
pCpXnkNk3Tgl4qXPpyETEHoy/T/nep8+ffjZhL8iyE+4i4B+FbF4AbZ0XJ33yGzYsDsI1UNtVq2yXEGkHFWhmQ==Bruce Smith and several of his colleagues developed this brief resilience quiz.
Your Score
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Resilience is the ability to cope with stress and recover from adversity.
Your resilience score is {model.total} (Scores range from 1–5.)
In multiple samples, Smith and his colleagues (2008) reported an average resilience score of about 3.6.
Your score indicates that you have above-average resilience. That’s great! You may still want to increase your level of resilience. On the next screen, you will learn how to build this strength.
Your score indicates that you have below-average resilience. That’s okay. You can become more resilient. On the next screen, you will learn some easy ways to build this strength.
Your score indicates that you have average resilience, which is not a bad place to start! You can become more resilient. On the next screen, you will learn how to build this strength.
Build This Strength
Faced with unexpected trauma, most adults exhibit resilience. In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, more than 9 in 10 New Yorkers did not have a dysfunctional stress reaction (Bonanno et al., 2007; Person et al., 2006). Among those who did, their distress had mostly worn off by the next January. It is in our nature to weather the inevitable psychological storms that we will encounter.
How can you increase your resilience? Here are three ways to help you get started.
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1. Imagine new possibilities. When you feel stressed, depressed, or hopeless, visualize how your future will improve. What exciting adventures might you have? If one class stresses you out, what other class might you take later that would teach you a new skill, a new way of thinking, or a new way to add meaning to your life? Remember, the darkest times may shine a light on other possibilities you had not considered.
2. Build your foundation with close relationships. We humans depend on each other for our physical and emotional well-being. Just as distressed babies seek out parental comfort, most people reach out to friends and family in times of need. Relationships give us a foundation of support. To strengthen that base, invest time and effort in your family and friends. Close relationships help to reduce the pain of adversity.
3. Have patience. Does it ever feel as if there is no light at the end of the tunnel? Remember that it takes time to cope with adversity. Don’t lose hope. Time does not heal all wounds, but it does help most people recover from adversity.
Bonanno, G. A., Galea, S., Bucciarelli, A., & Vlahov, D. (2007). What predicts psychological resilience after disaster? The role of demographics, resources, and life stress. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 75, 671–682.
Person, C., Tracy, M., & Galea, S. (2006). Risk factors for depression after a disaster. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 194, 659–666.
Smith, B. W., Dalen, J., Wiggins, K., Tooley, E., Christopher, P., & Bernard, J. (2008). The brief resilience scale: assessing the ability to bounce back. International journal of behavioral medicine, 15, 194-200.
QUIZ
Are you ready for the Quiz? Demonstrate and reinforce your understanding by answering the following questions.
Question
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1. a. high
2. False
3. d. imagine new future possibilities.
4. c. strong
5. True