High psychological resilience is associated with improved functional and mental health outcomes in older adults recovering from hip fractures. Resilience, the ability to adapt and recover from adversity, plays a crucial role in post-fracture recovery, influencing the overall well-being and quality of life. Older women, in particular, often face significant physical and emotional challenges following a hip fracture, including an increased risk of depression and poor mental health, which can hinder rehabilitation. Understanding the factors that contribute to greater resilience may help improve recovery strategies and enhance long-term outcomes.
A study by McClennen et al., published in the “Journal of Gerontology: Series A, explored various influences on resilience, including mental health status and cognitive function, to identify the key determinants that support better psychological adaptation and overall recovery in older women after hip fracture as well as the association between psychological resilience and mental health outcomes in older women after hip fracture.
Data from 129 women aged >65 years with recent surgically repaired hip fractures were analyzed. Resilience, measured using the Brief Resilience Scale, was categorized as low (<4) or high (≥4). Overall, 44% of the participants exhibited high resilience. Higher resilience was significantly associated with lower Geriatric Depression Scores (GDS) and better PROMIS Global Mental Health scores. Each 1-point worsening in GDS reduced the odds of high resilience by 24%. Positive mental health remained significantly linked to resilience, while education and cognition showed no association (See graphic).
(Source: McClennen T, Sharma H, Kiel DP, Fortinsky RH, Guild CP, Orwig D, Magaziner J, Binder EF, Berry SD. Better mental health and fewer depressive symptoms are associated with greater psychological resilience after hip fracture. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. January 2025. Doi:10.1093/gerona/glaf008)