Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Figures
- Notes on contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1 Sources of human life-strengths, resilience, and health
- 2 Growth is not just for the young: growth narratives, eudaimonic resilience, and the aging self
- 3 Physical resilience and aging:
- 4 You can teach an old dog new tricks:
- 5 Resilience in the face of cognitive aging:
- 6 Why do some people thrive while others succumb to disease and stagnation?
- 7 Psychosocial resources as predictors of resilience and healthy longevity of older widows
- 8 Resilience and longevity:
- 9 The socioemotional basis of resilience in later life
- 10 Emotional resilience and beyond:
- 11 Risk, resilience, and life-course fit:
- 12 Resilience in mobility in the context of chronic disease and aging:
- 13 Positive aging:
- Index
- References
9 - The socioemotional basis of resilience in later life
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 December 2010
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Figures
- Notes on contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1 Sources of human life-strengths, resilience, and health
- 2 Growth is not just for the young: growth narratives, eudaimonic resilience, and the aging self
- 3 Physical resilience and aging:
- 4 You can teach an old dog new tricks:
- 5 Resilience in the face of cognitive aging:
- 6 Why do some people thrive while others succumb to disease and stagnation?
- 7 Psychosocial resources as predictors of resilience and healthy longevity of older widows
- 8 Resilience and longevity:
- 9 The socioemotional basis of resilience in later life
- 10 Emotional resilience and beyond:
- 11 Risk, resilience, and life-course fit:
- 12 Resilience in mobility in the context of chronic disease and aging:
- 13 Positive aging:
- Index
- References
Summary
Abstract
Resilience has numerous meanings in prior research, but generally refers to a pattern of functioning indicative of positive adaptation in the context of significant risk or adversity. Underlying this broad definition are two specific conditions: (a) exposure to significant risks; and (b) evidence of positive adaptation despite serious threats to development. In this chapter, we examine the relevance of positive emotions and social connection as basic building blocks of resilience in later life. We put forth a dynamic conception of resilience to illuminate, theoretically and empirically, how some individuals are able to maintain, recover, or improve their health and well-being in the face of life challenges. We then summarize select parts of ongoing studies to illustrate how our formulation of resilience guides our program of empirical research on positive emotions. We conclude with a brief consideration of future research directions to advance understanding of later life resilience.
The socioemotional basis of resilience in later life
The gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages; the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.
(Kennedy, 1968)What do we know about human well-being?
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- New Frontiers in Resilient AgingLife-Strengths and Well-Being in Late Life, pp. 239 - 257Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010
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