TY - JOUR

T1 - Resilience in older persons: A systematic review of the conceptual literature

AU - Angevaare, M.J.

AU - Roberts, Jen

AU - van Hout, Hein P.J.

AU - Smalbrugge, M.

AU - Schoonmade, L.J.

AU - Windle, Gill

AU - Hertogh, C.M.P.M.

PY - 2020/11

Y1 - 2020/11

N2 - Although ageing research increasingly incorporates resilience, a common notion on what resilience means is lacking. We aimed to give a comprehensive overview of the conceptual literature on resilience in older persons, identifying areas of consensus and variation/debate. A systematic search of eight databases from different disciplines led to the inclusion of 36 texts.Across the conceptual literature of resilience in older persons, three common features of descriptions of resilience were identified: a stressor, a response and a mechanism. Based on differences in their interpretation of how resilience is expressed we distinguished two perspectives. The first, classical and most widely applied perspective, describes the expression of resilience as a positive response to a high intensity stressor. The second, newer perspective, describes resilience in the context of responses relative to equilibrium, following low intensitystressors. Almost all descriptions across the two perspectives describe the resilience mechanism to be dynamic and emphasize the importance of the context in achieving resilience. This review provides clarity on the current conceptual status of resilience in older persons, an important step towards a higher level of consistency in the future use of resilience in ageing.

AB - Although ageing research increasingly incorporates resilience, a common notion on what resilience means is lacking. We aimed to give a comprehensive overview of the conceptual literature on resilience in older persons, identifying areas of consensus and variation/debate. A systematic search of eight databases from different disciplines led to the inclusion of 36 texts.Across the conceptual literature of resilience in older persons, three common features of descriptions of resilience were identified: a stressor, a response and a mechanism. Based on differences in their interpretation of how resilience is expressed we distinguished two perspectives. The first, classical and most widely applied perspective, describes the expression of resilience as a positive response to a high intensity stressor. The second, newer perspective, describes resilience in the context of responses relative to equilibrium, following low intensitystressors. Almost all descriptions across the two perspectives describe the resilience mechanism to be dynamic and emphasize the importance of the context in achieving resilience. This review provides clarity on the current conceptual status of resilience in older persons, an important step towards a higher level of consistency in the future use of resilience in ageing.

KW - Resilience

KW - Older persons

KW - Ageing

KW - Concept

KW - Systematic review

U2 - 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101144

DO - 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101144

M3 - Article

VL - 63

JO - Ageing Research Reviews

JF - Ageing Research Reviews

SN - 1568-1637

M1 - 101144

ER -