The relationship between resilience and age in a large cross-sectional Japanese adult sample

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between resilience and age in Japanese adults. Participants were Japanese adults (N = 5,143; 3,078 men and 2,065 women, mean age = 49.62 years, SD = 10.76, age range = 20–69 years). They responded to the Bidimensional Resilience Scale, examining innate and acquired factors of resilience. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted, and the results indicated a linearly increasing trend for resilience with age in acquired resilience factors that are strongly related to character. Additionally, a linearly increasing trend with age was also indicated in innate resilience factors that are strongly related with temperament. A significant correlation was observed with the squared term of age, suggesting a curvilinear relationship. These results suggest that resilience in Japan increases with age, which corroborates the findings of previous international studies; however, the status of age-related changes differs slightly based on whether the resilience factors are innate or acquired.