Additionally, resilient people feel more in control of their lives.

When confronted with a difficult life experience, such as the loss of a loved one, some people never fully recover from the pain of their loss. Others – the majority, in fact – get through the very difficult times. For these individuals, painful emotions will normally ease over time and one adapts to their new life circumstance. But a third group is made up of individuals in which a life adversity makes them grow personally in a profound way. Their life takes on new meaning, making them feel stronger than before.

Researchers at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona analyzed the responses of 254 students from the Faculty of Psychology in different questionnaires. The purpose was to evaluate their level of satisfaction with life and find connections between their resilience and their capacity of emotional recovery. 

Research data shows that students who are more resilient (in this study, 20% of those surveyed) are more satisfied with their lives. Additionally, these individuals believe they have control over their emotions and their state of mind. Resilience therefore has a positive prediction effect on the level of satisfaction with one’s life.

“Some of the characteristics of being resilient can be worked on and improved, such as self-esteem and being able to regulate one’s emotions. Learning these techniques can offer people the resources needed to help them adapt and improve their quality of life”, explains Dr Joaquín T Limonero, professor of the UAB Research Group on Stress and Health at UAB and coordinator of the research.

May 24, 2012
The Healthy Mind Network

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The above story contains original content and/or information reprinted and editorially adapted by The Healthy Mind. Material is provided by the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and EurekAlerts. 

Image Credit: Rebecca W

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