Resilience and Function in Adults With Chronic Physical Disabilities: A Cross-Lagged Panel Design

Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 2020 · DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaz048 · Published: November 1, 2019

Simple Explanation

This study explores the relationship between resilience and various aspects of well-being in adults with chronic physical disabilities. Resilience, defined as the ability to adapt positively to adversity, is examined in relation to anxiety, depression, social satisfaction, and physical function. The research uses data collected over three years from a large group of individuals with conditions like spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. By analyzing how resilience and these well-being factors change over time, the study aims to understand if resilience can predict improvements in these areas, or vice versa. The findings suggest that resilience is indeed linked to better psychological and social well-being. People with higher resilience tend to experience less anxiety and depression, and greater satisfaction in their social roles. However, resilience did not show a significant relationship with physical function in this study.

Study Duration

3 years

Participants

1,574 adults with spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, or postpolio myelitis syndrome

Evidence Level

Longitudinal survey study

Key Findings

1
Resilience has significant reciprocal relationships with anxiety, depression and social role satisfaction, but not physical function.
2
Resilience was a stronger predictor of later psychological function (anxiety and depression) than the inverse.
3
The lagged coefficients corresponding to resilience predicting social role satisfaction (T1 to T2 standardized coefficient = 0.09; T2 to T3 = 0.09) were comparable to those corresponding to social role satisfaction predicting resilience (T1 to T2 standardized coefficient = 0.11; T2 to T3 = 0.04).

Research Summary

This study investigated the temporal relationship between resilience and various function domains (anxiety, depression, social role satisfaction, and physical function) in adults with chronic physical disabilities using a cross-lagged panel design. The results indicated significant reciprocal relationships between resilience and nonphysical function domains, suggesting that resilience and these domains influence each other over time. Resilience was a stronger predictor of future psychological function than the inverse. The findings suggest that resilience may play a causal role in improving function and promoting long-term health in individuals with chronic physical disabilities, and that treatments aimed at enhancing resilience may be beneficial.

Practical Implications

Clinical Intervention

Resilience may be an important treatment target for clinicians to consider when treating individuals with chronic physical disabilities, particularly for improving psychological and social function.

Future Research

Researchers should further investigate the mechanisms through which resilience influences different health domains, as well as explore the potential of resilience training programs for individuals with chronic physical disabilities.

Rehabilitation Programs

Rehabilitation programs should consider incorporating interventions designed to enhance resilience, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or mindfulness meditation, to promote overall well-being.

Study Limitations

1
The study sample was primarily white and well-educated, limiting the generalizability of the findings.
2
Missing data may have been systematic, potentially affecting the reliability of the results.
3
Cross-lagged panel analyses can only provide preliminary evidence of a potential causal relationship, and there may be additional factors not assessed that could influence the associations found.

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