Toward a Socioecological Understanding of Resilience in the Context of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a prevalent condition that significantly affects physical functioning, psychological well-being, and quality of life. Resilience has emerged as a key factor in understanding effective coping and sustained functioning despite ongoing pain; however, existing conceptualizations and interventions primarily emphasize individual-level psychological traits and reflect Western, individualistic perspectives. This paper proposes a socioecological model to advance the conceptualization of resilience in the context of pain.

Conceptual paper.

A narrative conceptual synthesis of resilience and socioecological frameworks was conducted, integrating evidence from the pain literature.

The model frames resilience in the context of pain as a dynamic, multidimensional process arising from interactions across four interrelated dimensions: individual, interpersonal, community, and cultural. Together, these dimensions interact to support resilience in the experience of pain.

This model advances the conceptualization of resilience by highlighting multilevel protective factors and culturally meaningful resources, offering a framework to guide future research and intervention development in chronic pain.

Nurses may apply this framework to guide resilience-focused assessments and interventions that support equitable, contextually grounded, and effective pain management.