Psychological Resilience in Older Adults

Psychological resilience in older adults refers to the capacity to maintain or regain mental health despite exposure to age-related stressors such as bereavement, chronic illness, social isolation and functional decline. This dynamic process encompasses effective coping strategies, the mobilisation of personal and social resources, and adaptive recalibration in the face of adversity. Research has identified a set of protective factors, including emotional regulation, a sense of purpose, social engagement and perceived self-efficacy, which collectively buffer against stress and promote well-being. Cross-cultural studies highlight that resilience is shaped by individual dispositions, community support networks and broader environmental contexts. Measurement approaches have ranged from psychometrically driven scales to data-driven latent models, revealing the multidimensional nature of resilience and its temporal dynamics. Interventions to enhance resilience in later life deploy both preventive and remedial tactics—from structured group programmes in senior housing to digital platforms facilitating skill development in coping, control beliefs and manageability. Evidence shows that targeted interventions can foster positive adaptation, mitigate depressive and anxiety symptoms, and sustain quality of life. Given demographic ageing worldwide, advancing our understanding of resilience mechanisms and delivering scalable, accessible programmes remain priorities for public health and gerontological practice.

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Psychological Resilience in Older Adults publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in psychological resilience in older adults across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Psychological resilience: The dynamic capacity to maintain or regain psychological well-being in the face of stressors or adversity.

Adversity: Events or conditions that disrupt normal functioning, including loss, illness, financial strain or social isolation.

Positive adaptation: The process of adjusting thoughts, emotions and behaviours to recover equilibrium after exposure to adversity.

Coping: Cognitive and behavioural strategies employed to manage external or internal demands that are appraised as taxing or exceeding one’s resources.

References

1. Resilience in older persons: A systematic review of the conceptual literature. Ageing Research Reviews (2020).
2. A Web-Based Resilience-Enhancing Program to Improve Resilience, Physical Activity, and Well-being in Geriatric Population: Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research (2024).
3. A systematic review of the measurement properties of aspects of psychological capacity in older adults. Age and Ageing (2023).
4. Resilience Among Older Individuals in the Face of Adversity: How Demographic and Trait Factors Affect Mental-Health Constructs and Their Temporal Dynamics. Clinical Psychological Science (2023).
5. A pragmatic trial of a group intervention in senior housing communities to increase resilience. International Psychogeriatrics (2020).