Which characteristic promotes resilience?

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Resilience is boosted by having a resource that provides meaning, hope, and connection in the face of stress. Spirituality offers just that: a framework for understanding adversity, coping through practices like reflection, prayer, and rituals, and often a supportive community. These elements help regulate distress, preserve a sense of purpose, and encourage adaptive behaviors, all of which strengthen the ability to recover from or adapt to challenging situations.

External locus of control, where outcomes are seen as dictated by luck or others, undermines resilience because it reduces personal agency and initiative to cope. Dependency emphasizes reliance on others to solve problems, which can limit one’s own coping skills and self-efficacy. Upward social comparison can undermine self-esteem by focusing on how others fare better, which can increase stress rather than bolster resilience.