Studies have identified a range of psychosocial factors that promote successful adaptation to stress and that might help to prevent the onset of psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder and others. We are now beginning to identify the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie some of these traits (BOX 1). The use of active coping strategies such as problem solving and planning has been linked to improved well-being and a greater capacity to handle stressful situations in diverse populations, ranging from trauma-exposed to medically ill individuals13. Active coping with stress requires an individual to face their fears, and resilient individuals exhibit lower levels of denial, avoidant coping behaviour and behavioural disengagement8,14. Resilient individuals are also characterized by dispositional optimism and high positive emotionality15,16. Positive emotions promote adaptive coping and openness to social support15, and are associated with greater flexibility of thinking and exploration, a broadened focus of attention and decreased autonomic activity17. Resilience has been linked to being able to perceive stressful events in less threatening ways, promoting adaptive coping strategies13; such cognitive reappraisal allows individuals to
