Psychological resilience: Significance for pediatric and adult congenital cardiology

While the survival of children with congenital heart disease to adulthood has increased over the years, few are considered cured and most continue living with chronic disease, facing lifelong challenges. Psychological resilience is a dynamic process that can be acquired and modified, reflects an interaction between internal and external risk and protective factors, and can be defined as one's ability to face adversity in ways that may preserve well-being and quality of life. Resilience correlates with both physical and psychological outcomes, as individuals with greater resilience tend to experience more positive emotions, engage in more physical activity, and have improved physical functioning. In congenital heart disease, fostering resilience is important not only for adults, adolescents, and children, but also for parents of affected children. Promoting positive protective factors, particularly self-efficacy, self-esteem, humor, optimism, and positive affect, is important throughout the lifespan of patients with congenital heart disease. Resilience can be the focus of structured interventions and may also be fostered during regular clinical encounters by all members of the care team.