Dr. Littleton and Dr. Bistricky Co-Edit Special Journal Section on Psychological Resilience

Dr. Heather Littleton, Director of Research Operations at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience and Professor of Psychology, and Dr. Steve Bistricky, Associate Director of Clinical Training and Associate Professor of Psychology, have co-edited a special section of the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma focused on psychological resilience.

The special section, titled “Methodological Innovations and Novel Applications of Psychological Resilience Theory,” will appear in the July 2025 issue of the journal. Its goal is to highlight new approaches researchers are using to study how people adapt and grow through adversity over time.

This approach to resilience reflects the perspective embraced by the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience—one that views resilience not as a fixed trait or a single outcome, but as an ongoing, dynamic process. Rather than something a person simply has, resilience is seen as something a person does: actively using personal, social, and community resources to respond to challenges and change.

Several of the articles featured in this special section were written by members of the Institute community, including Drs. Chip Benight, Michael Dolezal, Yannick Hill, David Pincus, Bernard Ricca, and Joseph Ruzek, along with Institute affiliates, consultants, and alumni.

Together, these contributions highlight the evolving science of resilience and the people dedicated to advancing it. The editors hope this collection will encourage continued research that deepens understanding of how individuals adapt and thrive in the face of adversity—insight that is vital for developing effective and accessible interventions to support individuals, groups, and communities.

To learn more about the Institute’s Research division, follow the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience on social media, subscribe to our newsletter, or visit the Research Section of the Institute website.