Theoretical Framework of Measures of Resilience: A Gender-focused Critical Review

Abstract

Assessing the resilience of rural women amidst the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial for understanding how they navigated the additional challenges brought by the crisis. This study emphasizes the importance of gender-specific and culturally sensitive measures in evaluating the resilience of Indian rural women, considering their diverse regional and cultural backgrounds. The authors propose examining rural women's resilience through the theoretical frameworks of the positive cognitive triad and psychological capital. A qualitative analysis of resilience measures sourced from Google Scholar, PubMed, and SCOPUS databases reveals the absence of a gender-specific resilience scale tailored to rural Indian women, with limited incorporation of the proposed theoretical frameworks. The findings underscore the need for systematic evaluation of community psychological needs, especially in times of crisis, to address gender disparities and effectively support vulnerable populations. Recommendations include developing a tailored resilience measure for Indian rural women to inform targeted developmental programs in similar contexts.