Sport psychology reference
Reference

Resilience

Resilience is the ability to maintain and restore well-being and effectiveness under stress and setbacks.

Definition

A dynamic skill rather than an innate trait: it develops through the experience of getting through things, through support, and through making sense of difficulty.

How it shows up in sport

The athlete comes back from injuries, defeats and slumps, taking experience from them rather than losing faith in themselves.

Related tests

Assessed with hardiness questionnaires and tests of resilience.

Exercises

Strengthened by a debrief after a setback and the thought journal.

Related terms and issues

See mental toughness and emotional resilience.

Related topics

See also

When you need a personal review

If the challenge recurs, affects results, or causes strong tension for the athlete, it is better to discuss it with a specialist. Sports Talk helps you find a psychologist and a format that fits the sport, age and upcoming calendar.