Resiliency Research: What We Know

Personal resiliency is something that contributes to health and wellbeing in major ways. What do we know about resiliency, and how can personal resiliency be developed? Below are some recent studies that have examined resiliency, what goes into resiliency, and how it relates to stress. While no single study can provide the full picture on resiliency (or any other topic), the collection of resiliency studies below can work together to provide a better understanding of how resiliency works. You'll find a synopsis of the main findings of each study, with a link to more information on each, as well as additional resources for building and maintaining resiliency in the face of stressors and crises.

While we can't always control what we face in life, we can work to build our personal resiliency so that when we do face our challenges, we can respond in a way that works best for those we love.

Study: What Doesn't Kill You MAY Make You Stronger

This is one of my favorite quotes because it always resonated with me and helped me through tough times. Research from the University of Buffalo shows that some adversity does seem to make us stronger. Learn more about how much, and how it affects us, and find more resources for resiliency toward stress.

Marriage Can Be A Great Stress Relief Tool

Marriage and solid romantic relationships can bring comfort from life's difficulties and stresses, and research bears this out in many ways. In this particular study, researchers found that married people and those in serious committed relationships tend to physically react less to stress. Learn exactly what they found, and find resources for strengthening relationships and using relationships for resiliency.

A Little Yoga Can Bring A Lot of Stress Relief

Yoga has become a stress relief staple in recent years, but people may not know how effective yoga can be for overall stress management. Research shows that a relatively small amount of yoga can bring lasting benefits to mood and performance, and increased resilience to stress, and could bring real benefits to employers by reducing job stress and increasing productivity in workers. Learn how much yoga it takes, what benefits were discovered, and find resources on yoga for resiliency.

Exercise Can Bring Longer-Term Resilience Toward Stress

A little exercise can be a great way to blow off steam and relieve stress; regular exercise can create lasting stress relief. Researchers found that elite sportsmen showed significantly lower cortisol, heart rate, and state anxiety responses compared with untrained subjects. Learn more about that research and find resources on exercise for resiliency.

Happy People Are Resilient People

Happiness isn't just good for making life more enjoyable, it can help you to better manage stress and develop resiliency. According to a new study by a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill psychologist and colleagues, people who seed their life with frequent moments of positive emotions increase their resiliency against challenges. Read on for the particulars of the research and resources to build happiness and resiliency.

Share This Research With Friends

For more ongoing stress relief resources, subscribe to the free Stress Management Weekly Newsletter, and read on for more research below:

• Happiness and Stress Research
• Stress and Health Research
• Relationship and Stress Research