In the 1970s, researchers began asking a simple question: “Why do some people get ill while others do not?” (Garmezy, 1973). Upon discovering a number of risk and protective factors, research quickly shifted towards a broader focus of general adaptation and resiliency in the face of adverse situations. Of particular interest were maltreated children and those suffering from ruinous illnesses and diseases, such as cancer (Fritz,
2015). What underlying factors result in a child maintaining a positive outlook on life despite suffering such pain?
The construct of psychological resilience works towards answering these questions and is a relatively young field of research. Resilience describes an individual’s ability to positively adapt in the face …show more content…
A Pearson’s product-moment correlation was run to assess the relationship between RS resilience scores and DASS stress scores. There was a moderate negative correlation between measures of resilience and measures of stress, r(123) = −.288,p < .001. This relationship is presented in a scatterplot in Figure 7.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RESILIENCE AND DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND
STRESS 8
Figure 6. Resilience-anxiety scatterplot
Figure 7. Resilience-stress scatterplot
Discussion
Although resilience is described in the literature as a protective factor in all three response variables, the study found varying results. The negative relationship between measures of resilience and depression suggested that resilience was indeed a strong protective factor in positively adapting to depression; those who tested highly in resilience tended to test low in depression, as hypothesised. These findings support the results of previous research, such as that of Edward (2005). However, the negligible relationship
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RESILIENCE AND DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND
STRESS 9
Table 1
The Explanatory and Response Variables
N Minimum Maximum ¯ x SD
Resilience 123 1 7 5.26 0.89
Depression 123 0 42 9.66 8.40
Anxiety 123 0 36 8.81 7.73
Stress 123 0 34 13.70 …show more content…
This did not support the hypothesis that resilience and anxiety would be negatively associated. The differences in these results may be due to the fact that this study used the
DASS to assess levels of anxiety, while Connor & Davidson used both the Hamilton
Anxiety Scale (HAS) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Finally, resilience and stress were found to be moderately negatively associated, suggesting that resilience serves as a protective factor against stress, as the literature suggests (Kinman &
Grant, 2011) (Southwick et al., 2005). This supported the hypothesis that resilience and stress would be negatively associated.
Both a strength and weakness of this study lies in its participant pool. The sample consisted primarily of undergraduate students and their friends and families, which may make generalising these findings to the greater population will be difficult. However, this
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RESILIENCE AND DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND
STRESS 10 sample also provides a somewhat unique insight into resilience, as most previous
2015). What underlying factors result in a child maintaining a positive outlook on life despite suffering such pain?
The construct of psychological resilience works towards answering these questions and is a relatively young field of research. Resilience describes an individual’s ability to positively adapt in the face …show more content…
A Pearson’s product-moment correlation was run to assess the relationship between RS resilience scores and DASS stress scores. There was a moderate negative correlation between measures of resilience and measures of stress, r(123) = −.288,p < .001. This relationship is presented in a scatterplot in Figure 7.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RESILIENCE AND DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND
STRESS 8
Figure 6. Resilience-anxiety scatterplot
Figure 7. Resilience-stress scatterplot
Discussion
Although resilience is described in the literature as a protective factor in all three response variables, the study found varying results. The negative relationship between measures of resilience and depression suggested that resilience was indeed a strong protective factor in positively adapting to depression; those who tested highly in resilience tended to test low in depression, as hypothesised. These findings support the results of previous research, such as that of Edward (2005). However, the negligible relationship
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RESILIENCE AND DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND
STRESS 9
Table 1
The Explanatory and Response Variables
N Minimum Maximum ¯ x SD
Resilience 123 1 7 5.26 0.89
Depression 123 0 42 9.66 8.40
Anxiety 123 0 36 8.81 7.73
Stress 123 0 34 13.70 …show more content…
This did not support the hypothesis that resilience and anxiety would be negatively associated. The differences in these results may be due to the fact that this study used the
DASS to assess levels of anxiety, while Connor & Davidson used both the Hamilton
Anxiety Scale (HAS) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Finally, resilience and stress were found to be moderately negatively associated, suggesting that resilience serves as a protective factor against stress, as the literature suggests (Kinman &
Grant, 2011) (Southwick et al., 2005). This supported the hypothesis that resilience and stress would be negatively associated.
Both a strength and weakness of this study lies in its participant pool. The sample consisted primarily of undergraduate students and their friends and families, which may make generalising these findings to the greater population will be difficult. However, this
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RESILIENCE AND DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND
STRESS 10 sample also provides a somewhat unique insight into resilience, as most previous