A systematic review of resilience in the physically ill
Abstract
Background Resilience is the capacity of individuals to maintain, or regain, their mental health in the face of significant adversity, including physical illness.Objective We conducted a systematic review of resilience and related concepts in the physically ill to determine factors associated with predicting or promoting resilience.Methods An electronic search of PsychInfo, Medline, and CINAHL databases between 1950 and May 2009 was performed using the terms resilience, and various types of physical illnesses. Inclusion criteria were broad and exclusion criteria were not published in English or not focused on resilience in physical illness.Results A total of 475 articles were retrieved and 52 articles met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Psychological factors associated with resilience were self-efficacy, self-esteem, internal locus of control, optimism, mastery, hardiness, hope, self-empowerment, acceptance of illness, and determination. Social support was highly predictive of, and associated with, resilience. Coping strategies such as positive cognitive appraisal, spirituality, active coping, and mastery were also associated with resilience. Resilience factors directly salient to physical illness such as self-care, adherence to treatment, health related quality of life, illness perception, pain perception, exercise adherence, and physical outcomes were also found.Discussion These findings need to be considered and when appropriate incorporated into the psychological and psychiatric care of physically ill individuals.
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Pain-related expectations influence the experience of pain and treatment outcomes.
“Pain-related expectations also influence the experience of pain as well as treatment outcomes.”
From Evaluating psychosocial contributions to chronic pain outcomes (2018) · cites this paper as [347]
Expectations are related to overall well-being and the development of chronic pain and are a critical component of responses to both placebo and active treatments.
“Expectations are related to overall well-being and the development of chronic pain and are also a critical component of responses to treatment for both placebo and active treatments 346,347.”
From Evaluating psychosocial contributions to chronic pain outcomes (2018) · cites this paper as [347]
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“It is proposed as an effective tool to mitigate the negative effects of stressors leading to anxiety and depression (Dantzer et al., 2018; Sheerin et al., 2018; Stewart & Yuen, 2011; McCraty & Atkinson, 2012).”
- Authors
- Stewart, D. E., & Yuen, T.
- Affiliations
- University Health Network (CA)
- Venue
- Psychosomatics
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-05
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 199-209
- ISSN
- 0033-3182 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2036314243
- Cited by
- 491
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 88 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 2.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychosomatics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Keywords
- resilience, physical illness, mental health, self-efficacy, self-esteem, locus of control, optimism, hardiness, hope, self-empowerment, social support, coping strategies, spirituality, self-care, medication adherence, health-related quality of life, illness perception, pain perception, exercise adherence
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Disease, Humans, Internal-External Control, Patient Compliance, Quality of Life, Self Care, Self Concept, Social Support, Self Efficacy, Spirituality, Resilience, Psychological, Illness Behavior
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