Psychological and neuro-morphological predictors of resilience in healthy adults: the whole is more than the sum of its parts

IntroductionResearch in resilience has shifted the focal point from a pathological orientation (responses to recovery from trauma or stress) to an emphasis on the role of resilience in health (protective factors to maintain health levels despite eventual adversities). Even if many single factors imp...

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Main Authors: Carlo Fabrizio, Eleonora Picerni, Daniela Laricchiuta, Davide Decandia, Fabrizio Piras, Andrea Termine, Gianfranco Spalletta, Laura Petrosini, Debora Cutuli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Neuroscience
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1597835/full
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author Carlo Fabrizio
Eleonora Picerni
Daniela Laricchiuta
Davide Decandia
Davide Decandia
Fabrizio Piras
Andrea Termine
Gianfranco Spalletta
Laura Petrosini
Debora Cutuli
Debora Cutuli
author_facet Carlo Fabrizio
Eleonora Picerni
Daniela Laricchiuta
Davide Decandia
Davide Decandia
Fabrizio Piras
Andrea Termine
Gianfranco Spalletta
Laura Petrosini
Debora Cutuli
Debora Cutuli
author_sort Carlo Fabrizio
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionResearch in resilience has shifted the focal point from a pathological orientation (responses to recovery from trauma or stress) to an emphasis on the role of resilience in health (protective factors to maintain health levels despite eventual adversities). Even if many single factors impact resilience capacities, an integrative predictive model including psychological constructs, personality traits, and brain structural features may offer a more profound knowledge of trait resilience.MethodsWe examined the associations between Resilience Scale-10 scores with numerous psychological dimensions, personality traits, and neuro-morphological features (brain volumes and thickness) in 69 healthy adults of both sexes. Furthermore, we investigated the predictors potentially associated with resilience by regression modeling.ResultsIn the present exploratory study resilience values were predicted: positively by some personality characteristics (Conscientiousness, Openness, Resourcefulness, Enlightened second nature), psychological dimensions (Self-efficacy, Positive affect, Confidence), and brain morphological aspects (volumes of amygdala and hippocampus, and cortical thickness of temporal pole); and negatively by other personality traits (Fear of uncertainty) and psychological dimensions (Anxiety, Depression, Need for Approval).DiscussionThe present results, although exploratory and hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory, suggest that the identification of the multiple psychological and personality features and neuro-morphological aspects associated with resilience may represent a good step forward in understanding the factors that predispose individuals to be resilient.
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spelling doaj-art-d9cb3acb658e45fbbf33435761f8ea8e2025-08-20T03:28:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2025-07-011910.3389/fnins.2025.15978351597835Psychological and neuro-morphological predictors of resilience in healthy adults: the whole is more than the sum of its partsCarlo Fabrizio0Eleonora Picerni1Daniela Laricchiuta2Davide Decandia3Davide Decandia4Fabrizio Piras5Andrea Termine6Gianfranco Spalletta7Laura Petrosini8Debora Cutuli9Debora Cutuli10IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, ItalyIRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Philosophy, Social Sciences & Education, University of Perugia, Perugia, ItalyIRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, ItalyIRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, ItalyIRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, ItalyIRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, ItalyIRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, ItalyIRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, ItalyIntroductionResearch in resilience has shifted the focal point from a pathological orientation (responses to recovery from trauma or stress) to an emphasis on the role of resilience in health (protective factors to maintain health levels despite eventual adversities). Even if many single factors impact resilience capacities, an integrative predictive model including psychological constructs, personality traits, and brain structural features may offer a more profound knowledge of trait resilience.MethodsWe examined the associations between Resilience Scale-10 scores with numerous psychological dimensions, personality traits, and neuro-morphological features (brain volumes and thickness) in 69 healthy adults of both sexes. Furthermore, we investigated the predictors potentially associated with resilience by regression modeling.ResultsIn the present exploratory study resilience values were predicted: positively by some personality characteristics (Conscientiousness, Openness, Resourcefulness, Enlightened second nature), psychological dimensions (Self-efficacy, Positive affect, Confidence), and brain morphological aspects (volumes of amygdala and hippocampus, and cortical thickness of temporal pole); and negatively by other personality traits (Fear of uncertainty) and psychological dimensions (Anxiety, Depression, Need for Approval).DiscussionThe present results, although exploratory and hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory, suggest that the identification of the multiple psychological and personality features and neuro-morphological aspects associated with resilience may represent a good step forward in understanding the factors that predispose individuals to be resilient.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1597835/fullpsychological constructspersonality traitsbrain volumes and thicknessResilience Scale-10Elastic Net
spellingShingle Carlo Fabrizio
Eleonora Picerni
Daniela Laricchiuta
Davide Decandia
Davide Decandia
Fabrizio Piras
Andrea Termine
Gianfranco Spalletta
Laura Petrosini
Debora Cutuli
Debora Cutuli
Psychological and neuro-morphological predictors of resilience in healthy adults: the whole is more than the sum of its parts
Frontiers in Neuroscience
psychological constructs
personality traits
brain volumes and thickness
Resilience Scale-10
Elastic Net
title Psychological and neuro-morphological predictors of resilience in healthy adults: the whole is more than the sum of its parts
title_full Psychological and neuro-morphological predictors of resilience in healthy adults: the whole is more than the sum of its parts
title_fullStr Psychological and neuro-morphological predictors of resilience in healthy adults: the whole is more than the sum of its parts
title_full_unstemmed Psychological and neuro-morphological predictors of resilience in healthy adults: the whole is more than the sum of its parts
title_short Psychological and neuro-morphological predictors of resilience in healthy adults: the whole is more than the sum of its parts
title_sort psychological and neuro morphological predictors of resilience in healthy adults the whole is more than the sum of its parts
topic psychological constructs
personality traits
brain volumes and thickness
Resilience Scale-10
Elastic Net
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1597835/full
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