Exploring resilience variability in a chronic pain and spinal cord injury sample: A brief report

This study examined the variability of resilience in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and chronic pain using ecological momentary assessment to determine the extent to which resilience functions as a stable trait versus a state-like process.

Fifty-three adults with SCI and chronic pain completed baseline and 6-month follow-up assessments, including a 7-day ecological momentary assessment protocol administered twice daily to measure momentary resilience. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to quantify between- and within-person variability. Paired-samples t tests were used to assess changes in resilience over time and across different times of day (wake-up and bed time).

Intraclass correlation coefficients revealed that between-person differences accounted for the majority of the variance in resilience (64% at Time 1; 80% at Time 2), whereas a notable proportion was attributable to within-person fluctuations (36% and 20%, respectively). Resilience levels did not significantly change over the 6-month period, but momentary resilience was significantly higher in the evening compared with the morning at baseline.

Our findings suggest that resilience has both trait-like stability and state-like fluctuations. These findings have important implications for the timing and targeting of resilience-enhancing interventions, supporting the development of tailored approaches that address both long-term resilience and real-time adaptability to daily stressors. Consequently, this research can guide the development of strategies aimed at strengthening resilience, optimizing pain management, and improving overall quality of life for individuals with SCI and chronic pain. This highlights the potential for developing personalized interventions that support both state-like and trait-like resilience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).