Resilience refers to adaptation to adversity such as relational, financial, or workplace problems. Which term best captures this concept?

• A. Stress
• B. Coping
• C. Resilience
• D. Trauma

Answer: (C)

Resilience is the capacity to adapt positively in the face of adversity, such as relational, financial, or workplace problems, and to continue functioning or even grow despite the hardship. It captures not just enduring stress, but the ability to bounce back, recover, and maintain or regain a sense of balance.

Stress describes the reaction to a demand or threat, not the overall ability to handle adversity. Coping refers to the specific strategies people use to manage stress—planning, seeking support, reframing thoughts—but these are processes that contribute to resilience rather than the overall capacity itself. Trauma is the experience of a severely distressing event and its potential lasting impact, which is a separate concept from the general ability to adapt to ongoing challenges.