Resilience and successful aging: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the relationship between successful aging (SA) and resilience in older adults, focusing on individuals aged 60 and above, to address a significant gap in understanding how resilience contributes to SA.

Following the Cochrane review guidelines, we conducted searches in databases such as Web of Science, PsycNet, and PubMed up to December 2021 and used PRISMA as a tool for reporting the results. Our inclusion criteria were studies on psychological resilience and SA in older adults aged 60 and above. Exclusion criteria included studies on physical resilience, medical outcomes of SA, other indicators not used in screened studies (e.g., prevalence, means), populations with suicidal ideation or chronic/palliative illnesses, studies considering resilience as an indicator of SA, and qualitative studies on the association between resilience and SA.

A total of 21 studies were included and assessed for risk of bias using funnel plot and trim-and-fill methods. The meta-analysis revealed a medium effect size indicating a positive relationship between resilience and SA. However, high heterogeneity warrants a cautious interpretation of these results. No significant differences were found between older adults in the general population and those in retirement communities, nor were geographical variations (Asia, Europe, America) found to moderate this relationship.

The findings highlight the intrinsic link between older adults' attitudes towards aging, their subjective evaluations, and their level of psychological resilience. Resilience acts as a protective factor against psychological and physical adversities, underscoring the importance of resilience-enhancing strategies in interventions aimed at promoting SA. The conclusions drawn from this analysis should be approached with caution due to the heterogeneity of the included studies.