Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Cognitive Processes Underpinning Resilience in Individuals Exposed to Adversity

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Cognition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 2376

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
Interests: resilience; emotion; cognition; adversity; cognitive bias; attention

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Exposure to adversity is an almost inevitable life experience. Whether acutely traumatic, chronic, or cumulative, adversity can have detrimental effects on mental health and wellbeing. However, there exists large variation in the degree to which individuals are affected by adverse experiences. When individuals demonstrate more positive outcomes than would be expected given the adversity they experienced, we call them resilient. Understanding the mechanisms though which individuals can demonstrate such resilient outcomes is critical to taking a strength-based approach to tackling today’s worrying rise in mental health problems. While there is increased attention to the cognitive mechanisms that could contribute to resilience, there exists a wide scope for accelerating our understanding of resilience through multidisciplinary research which examines candidate cognitive mechanisms from a range of different perspectives. For this reason, this Special Issue aims to integrate diverse perspectives, methodologies, and knowledge bases from a variety of disciplines. This can include but is not limited to the following topics:

  • Cognition and neuroscience/neuropsychology: Elucidating the neural mechanisms and brain networks involved in resilient cognition.
  • Cognition and clinical and counseling psychology: Understanding adaptive thought patterns, cognitive biases, and coping strategies after trauma.
  • Cognition and developmental psychology: Tracking the emergence, trajectories, environmental influences, critical periods, and malleability of resilient cognition.
  • Cognition and social and cultural psychology: Exploring how resilient cognition is shaped by interpersonal and sociocultural factors.
  • Cognition and computer science and artificial intelligence: Leveraging computational modeling, machine learning, and AI techniques to understand cognitive processes underlying resilience.

Dr. Lies Notebaert
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • resilience
  • adversity
  • wellbeing
  • cognition
  • cognitive processes
  • neuropsychology
  • clinical psychology
  • developmental psychology
  • social psychology
  • computer science

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 582 KiB  
Article
A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Coping Self-Insights Associated with Resilience
by Kirsten J. Bucknell, Scott Hoare, Maria Kangas, Eyal Karin and Monique F. Crane
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 1018; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14111018 - 1 Nov 2024
Viewed by 914
Abstract
Self-insight has been associated with psychological resilience; however, less is understood about the role coping-specific self-insights play in strengthening resilience. This study used a convergent mixed-methods approach to investigate the coping self-insights triggered by self-reflection on coping experiences and their effects on perceived [...] Read more.
Self-insight has been associated with psychological resilience; however, less is understood about the role coping-specific self-insights play in strengthening resilience. This study used a convergent mixed-methods approach to investigate the coping self-insights triggered by self-reflection on coping experiences and their effects on perceived resilience. Australian ministry workers (n = 79) provided up to five qualitative self-reflective workbook entries, and quantitative online self-report survey responses before and six months after training. Hierarchical regression analyses of weighted quantized coping-specific self-insights on perceived resilience were conducted. Results suggest two pathways for the strengthening of resilience. A set of three self-insights related to greater perceived resilience appear to reinforce and sustain resilient beliefs across six months to increase perceived resilience. Another set of four self-insights is related to lesser perceived resilience after six months. It is suggested that the first set of self-insights may enhance beliefs that support resilience in the mid-term, whereas the second set may promote self-awareness that reduces perceived resilience in the mid-term. These findings support further exploration of coping self-insights, and the use and on-going testing of self-reflection resilience training. Full article
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13 pages, 521 KiB  
Article
Internal Strengths for Adverse Life Events
by Jian Zhao, Elaine Chapman and Stephen Houghton
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(8), 665; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14080665 - 1 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1060
Abstract
In this study, a brief measure of four internal attributes found to protect against the impact of adverse life events on mental health was developed and validated. In addition, profiles of internal strengths that significantly predict mental health outcomes in young Chinese adults [...] Read more.
In this study, a brief measure of four internal attributes found to protect against the impact of adverse life events on mental health was developed and validated. In addition, profiles of internal strengths that significantly predict mental health outcomes in young Chinese adults were identified. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses on data from 831 Chinese university students supported the proposed four-factor model of the ISALES. Participants in the current study fell into two clusters, with one cluster being higher than the other in all four internal strengths, with the former cluster demonstrating better overall mental health than those in the latter cluster. The ISALES is a promising instrument for use in clinical settings and may be used to identify individuals who are more ‘at risk’ of developing poor mental health in the aftermath of a negative life event. The use of the ISALES may permit tailored interventions and timely support to be provided to individuals within clinical settings. Full article
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