The document discusses resiliency theory and its relationship to psychological well-being and body satisfaction. It reviews literature showing resiliency mitigates body image dissatisfaction in women and its relationship to life satisfaction and depression can be explained by positive cognitive thinking. It then applies resiliency theory by discussing how embracing innate resilience through self-actualization, altruism, harmony and wisdom can promote well-being.

1. Resiliency Theory:
Applications to
Psychological Well-Being
and Body Satisfaction
Applied Health Technology
Ashlin Gunn

2. Literature Review
● McGrath and colleagues (2010) examined the
relationship of resiliency to body image dissatisfaction in
college women
● Hypothesized:
○ (1) resiliency may have measurable mitigating effect
on body image dissatisfaction in young women
○ (2) as a young woman's resiliency increases, her
body dissatisfaction will decrease
● Findings: significant protective relationship between
level of a woman's resilience and holding a negative
body image

3. Literature Review
● Mak and colleagues (2011) tested whether the
relationships among resilience, life satisfaction, and
depression could be explained by the positive cognitive
triad
● Aim of the study: to test if positive thinking can explain the
linkage between resilience and well-being
● Hypothesized: resilient individuals who have positive views
about themselves, the world and the future, will promote
their positive emotionality and life satisfaction and protect
them from depression
● Findings: relationship between resilience and well-being
can be mediated by the positive cognitive triad

4. Application of Theory
● Main construct used:
○ Embracing your innate resilience
■ Self actualization
■ Altruism
■ Harmony
■ Wisdom

5. Application of Theory
● Embracing your innate resilience
○ Self-actualization
■ Maslow's advice - the importance of maintaining
physical health and having a firm foundation
■ Health At Every Size (HAES):
● PA should be pleasurable and enjoyable
● Focus on enjoyment of PA and not on weight
loss
● Emphasize an appreciation for the body's
capabilities
● Allowing your body to be at the size it needs to
be and accepting it
● Enhance quality of life

6. Application of Theory
● Altruism
○ Since depression involves a high degree of focus
on the self, focusing on the needs of others will
help shift ones thinking
○ Positive feedback loop
○ Challenging individuals to do small acts of service
■ By doing service, individuals:
● will not have the opportunity to compare
themselves to others
● will feel more satisfied with themselves

7. Application of Theory
● Harmony
○ Providing tools for grounding in turbulent times
■ Yoga
■ Meditation
■ Cultivating mindfulness
■ Learning how to be in the present
○ HAES
○ Physiological hunger
○ Being in tune with your body

8. Application of Theory
○ Wisdom
■ Building upon individuals desires:
● Positive psychology
○ Amplify strengths
○ Human strengths that act as buffers against
mental illness:
- Courage - Future Mindedness
- Optimism - Faith
- Work ethics - Hope
- Honesty - Capacity for flow
■ Strengthening optimism prevents depression
○ Engaging in activities to promote positive emotions
(Seligman, Schulman, DeRubeis, & Hollon, 1999)
(Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000)

9. Application of Theory
● Strengthen innate drives
○ Positive thinking
■ equip individuals with self-comptence and positive
expectations of the world and the future
■ being more mindful
■ living in the present
■ reframing adverse events in a positive light
■ infusing ordinary events with positive value
■ pursuing and achieving realistic goals
● setting realistic, attainable goals for weight and
shape