Does being psychologically resilient assist in optimising physical outcomes from a spinal cord injury? Findings from a systematic scoping review

To systematically search for current research on the role of resilience in the physical rehabilitation of SCI and describe the research to date. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach was used. Five databases were searched for papers published up to March 2020. The sample included adults who have sustained an SCI; outcomes included a physical rehabilitation outcome and a measure of psychological or personal resilience/resilience training. The initial search found 2074 studies. 12 studies were included. Six suggest positive effects of resilience on physical functioning/recovery, six report resilience as not affecting physical functioning/recovery. Resilience may positively affect physical outcomes; however, the relationship is under-researched and contrasting findings may be due to measurements and methods employed by research. Future research may distinguish between two sources of resilience following an SCI: prior resilient experiences, and resilience as a product of the injury. Individuals’ past events that triggered resilient behaviour may be able to promote a resilient response to an SCI. Focussing on emotional coping may result in poorer outcomes than building a sense of control. Resilience training may affect psychosocial rehabilitation; it is difficult to establish if it would affect physical outcomes. A negative approach to an injury can have negative effects on functioning; when identifying patients for psychoeducational training, those with the presence of negative appraisals of their injury are most in need.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONResilience may positively affect physical outcomes; however, the relationship is under-researched.Individuals’ past events that triggered resilient behaviour may be able to promote a resilient response to an SCI.Focussing on emotional coping may result in poorer outcomes than building a sense of control.When identifying patients for psychoeducational training, it may be those with the presence of negative appraisals of their injury that are most in need. Resilience may positively affect physical outcomes; however, the relationship is under-researched. Individuals’ past events that triggered resilient behaviour may be able to promote a resilient response to an SCI. Focussing on emotional coping may result in poorer outcomes than building a sense of control. When identifying patients for psychoeducational training, it may be those with the presence of negative appraisals of their injury that are most in need.