Psychological Resilience in the Age of Industry 5.0

Abstract: As Industry 5.0 introduces a human-centric manufacturing paradigm, understanding workers’ psychological resilience has become increasingly important. In Europe, this shift is closely linked to industrial competitiveness, workforce sustainability, and socially responsible innovation, making psychologically informed evidence relevant not only for researchers but also for policymakers, industrial decision-makers, human resources professionals, and psychologists. Although resilience has been widely examined at organizational and systemic levels, its psychological dimension within technologically advanced manufacturing contexts remains under-investigated. Using Industry 5.0 as a conceptual and future-oriented framework, this systematic review synthesized empirical evidence on how psychological resilience is conceptualized, assessed, and related to work outcomes among manufacturing employees. It also examined the extent to which this literature engages with human-centric and technologically mediated work contexts, including human–robot interaction (HRI). Following PRISMA guidelines, peer-reviewed studies were systematically searched across several academic databases. Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria and were analyzed in terms of resilience definitions and measurement tools. The findings revealed a fragmented conceptual landscape, with 14 distinct definitions of resilience. Most studies adopted trait-like, individual-level definitions, while only a few considered resilience as a dynamic or context-dependent process. Although a wide range of validated self-report measures was employed, psychological resilience was explicitly examined in relation to HRI in only one study. Overall, these findings highlighted a clear gap between the human-centric ambitions of Industry 5.0 and the current empirical literature. Strengthening this evidence base may inform strategic decisions on the design and implementation of automation and HRI, supporting European priorities for sustainable industrial transformation.