Role of resilience in addressing rural community health: Identifying Individual and Community Sources of Stress and Support

Health is influenced by one’s resilience or the ability to adapt to change and continue to develop in a positive direction. The sustainable livelihoods framework outlines the conceptual links between capital (e.g., social, financial), community policies and practices, livelihood choices, and outcomes including health. However, the framework does not explicitly include resilience and focuses on community rather than individual capital.  The purpose of this study was to use an ecological approach to explore a) the association of individual and community capital and b) the types of capital, policies, and programs that influence resilience and subsequent health outcomes. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposive, stratified sample of African American and White men and women who were either employed or unemployed residents of rural Missouri (n=12). A research team used focused coding to analyze the data. Participants identified natural, political, physical, human, and social capital at individual and community levels that help them cope with unexpected and chronic stressors. For example, when discussing human capital participants noted the importance of building skills to enhance individual confidence. At the community level, participants noted that communities need human capital in the form of strong leaders who inspire a belief that things will get better. These findings point toward policies and programs, such as youth leadership development programs, which can enhance resilience in the face of adversity and thereby improve individual and community health outcomes.