‘Resilience’ is used in 6 frameworks

Resilience has been defined as the ability to “bounce back” from adversity and thrive in the context of risk.For full description please see Developing Social-Emotional Skills for the Labor Market: The PRACTICE Model.

Ability to cope with stress and calamity and returning to previous level of stasis from some form of disruption, stress or change

Consensus on the meaning of the term resilience has yet to emerge (UNESCO, 2015b), and that may be largely due to its recent broadened use, referring to contexts as varied in their intensity as coping with stress at work to the grave psychosocial impact of child abuse, extremism, violent conflict and displacement, in particular on children and youth. Because it is highly contextualized, ‘being resilient’ will have different levels of depth for the individual developing and/or displaying that core life skill, especially in MENA. In all cases, however, the life skill of resilience shall be understood, in general terms, as the constructive, personal ability to navigate changing circumstances successfully (American Psychological Association, 2010), thus beyond the restrictive understanding, according to which resilience is constrained to the capacity to survive, accept or resign oneself to an unacceptable situation.

Positive adaptation during or following exposure to adversities that have the potential to harm development: (a) developing well in the context of high cumulative risk for developmental problems (beating the odds, better than predicted development), (b) functioning well under currently-adverse conditions (stress-resistance, coping) and (c) recovery to normal functioning after catastrophic adversity (bouncing back, self-righting) or severe deprivation (normalization).

A person who is resilient has emotional strength and perseveres in the face of challenges. He manifests courage, optimism, adaptability and resourcefulness.

Resilience is the ability to persist, adapt or transform in the face of change in a way that maintains our basic identity. It is the process of adapting well in the face of hardships, trauma, failure, threats or significant sources of stress, and achieving good adjustment. Resilience also refers to positive adaptation, or the ability to maintain or regain mental health, despite experiencing adversity.

Resilience is believed to improve learning and academic achievement. It contributes to reduced risk-taking behaviors including excessive drinking, smoking, and use of drugs. Resilient people are able to better manage difficult emotions and experience more positive emotions, which leads to objectively good health outcomes.

Resilience in Action The person will be able to:

• Adapt to change.
• Manage strong feelings and impulses.
• Make realistic plans and take steps to carry them out.
• Make a realistic appraisal of situations enabling acceptance of what cannot be changed.
• Have a positive view of themselves and have confidence in their strengths and abilities.
• Face unexpected challenges.
• Approach adversity as a solvable challenge.