Sara and Jorge are two close friends who graduated from college at the same time. They both faced a difficult job market and struggled to find employment. However, their experiences and responses to adversity were very different.

Sara decided to see the situation as an opportunity for personal growth. Thanks to her resilience and persistence, she landed a job interview. The company selected her candidacy and she accepted the job offer.

David struggled to cope with rejection and the pressure of unemployment. He became increasingly withdrawn and isolated himself from friends and family. Over time, David’s mental health began to deteriorate. His lack of resilience and inability to adapt to difficult circumstances affected his overall well-being.

In this article, we are going to look at the types of resilience, understood as the ability to quickly recover from difficult situations, adversities or challenges . In addition to bouncing back, resilience allows us to adapt, cope and maintain a positive mindset in the face of adversity, stress, trauma or significant life changes.

Resilience has a positive impact on mental health and can act as a buffer against chronic stress . Together with coping skills, emotional regulation, optimism, social support, self-esteem and self-efficacy, it contributes to maintaining a healthy mental state and preventing the development of chronic stress and its negative consequences.

The four types of resilience

Resilience is not just strength: it enables people to endure and learn from setbacks and obstacles, ultimately leading to personal growth and increased well-being.

Four types of resilience can be identified, if we look at the stages, origins and implications they have:

1. Physical resilience is something that people can improve, to a certain extent, by following healthy lifestyle guidelines. Getting enough sleep, maintaining a nutritious diet, and exercising regularly are just a few ways to strengthen this type of resilience. In general, physical resilience refers to how the body copes with change and recovers from physical demands, illness, and injury. There is a positive correspondence between resilience and improved physical fitness , and there has been research into how this type of resilience affects aging .
2. Social resilience . It can also be called community resilience. It involves the ability to recover from difficult situations collectively. Aspects of social resilience include a high sense of community after disasters, wars and conflicts. Spain shows a higher level of social resilience than other countries in its environment. Socially resilient communities have strong networks and relationships that foster cooperation and mutual assistance. Social resilience emphasizes the importance of collective action, empathy and inclusion in creating stronger and more interconnected societies.
3. Mental resilience . Mental resilience refers to a person’s ability to adapt to change and uncertainty. People who possess this type of resilience are flexible and calm during times of crisis. They use mental strength to solve problems, move forward, and stay hopeful even when faced with setbacks. Mental resilience is a key quality that enables individuals to navigate life’s obstacles with perseverance, determination, and contributes to good mental health . Mental resilience involves having a positive mindset, problem-solving skills, and the ability to perceive obstacles as opportunities for growth.
4. Emotional resilience : Emotional resilience refers to a person’s ability to manage and regulate their emotions in the face of difficulties. It involves being aware of emotions, expressing them appropriately, and coping effectively with stress. An emotionally resilient person can handle strong emotions such as anger, sadness, or fear without becoming overwhelmed by them. For example, if someone receives criticism at work, an emotionally resilient person can step back, reflect on the feedback, and respond constructively rather than becoming defensive or distressed.

Improving some types of resilience, such as mental and emotional resilience, involves developing a set of skills and strategies that help people bounce back from difficult situations, cope with stress, and adapt to adversity. It also involves a combination of self-reflection, self-care, learning new skills, and seeking support when needed. It is an ongoing process that can greatly contribute to overall well-being and the ability to cope with life’s challenges.

Sara faced the difficulties of the job market when she finished her university studies. She prepared for job interviews thoroughly, she resisted, she persevered, she learned from the different selection processes she went through and she achieved her goal. Her mental and emotional strength helped her achieve her goal.

Author Bio: Simon Dolan Landau is Professor and Chair of Human Resources at Adventere School of Management and Pedro Cesar Martinez Moran is Director of the Master in Talent Management at Advantere School of Management / Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business, both at the Comillas Pontifical University