Resilience in Older Adults: A Decade-wise Review and Comparative Analysis of Global and Indian Perspectives

Resilience is a central construct in aging research, reflecting how older adults adapt to adversity, including illness, bereavement, frailty, and social isolation. Over the past three decades, resilience research has evolved from conceptual frameworks to psychometric validations, multilevel models, and intervention studies. This paper provides a decade-wise review of approximately 50 studies across the 1990s to 2020s, synthesizing global and Indian perspectives. Comparative analysis reveals that global studies emphasize measurement, longitudinal trajectories, and interventions, while Indian studies underscore family, cultural values, and spirituality. Policy frameworks-such as the WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing and India's National Action Plan for Senior Citizens-are integrated to show the role of institutional support in promoting resilience. Findings highlight gaps, including the need for culturally adapted measures, longitudinal studies, and policies addressing marginalized populations.