La resilienza : una risorsa da valorizzare

During the last few years, the term resilience has become popular in common language and public discourse within a variety of domains, from psychology to medicine, from economics to ecology. However, its meaning is often misunderstood and generalized as an unspecific tendency to resist life upheavals and problems. Through theoretical models and empirical studies researchers have attempted to define resilience more rigorously, investigating its relationship with personal growth, mental health and successful adjustment in suboptimal health conditions or disadvantaged social circumstances. This article addresses these issues from the research and clinical perspectives, specifically focusing on the role of resilience in coping with chronic disease during childhood and adolescence. Based on Giulio D'Angio's claim that "cure is not enough", the need for a new paradigm in paediatrics, centred on the support and promotion of patients' psychological and relational strengths and resources is discussed and documented through clinical evidence and research findings.