Is resilience linked to stress response among anesthesia professionals? A prospective simulation-based study

Abstract

Objectives Anesthesiology is a stressful specialty characterized by high rates of burnout among its practitioners. Resilience, defined as a dynamic process of positive adaptation in the face of adversity, may serve as a protective factor. However, the relationship between resilience and the acute stress response remains poorly understood. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that higher resilience levels would be associated with attenuated physiological and psychological stress responses during a standardized anesthetic crisis simulation. Methods Participants included anesthesiologists, anesthesiology residents, nurse anesthetists, and nurse anesthetist students. Resilience was measured using the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 10, range 0–40). Participants underwent a high-fidelity pediatric laryngospasm simulation. Physiological (heart rate variability) and psychological (self-reported stress) responses to acute stress were analyzed. Results Thirty-four professionals were included. The median resilience score was 29 [27 –32], ranging from 18 to 34. No significant association was found between resilience and physiological (p=0.085) or psychological (p=0.621) responses to acute stress. Resilience was not related to age, years of experience, or professional role. Conclusions Resilience scores were comparable to those reported in other studies. No significant association was observed between resilience and the acute stress response. These findings are consistent with theoretical frameworks that conceptualize resilience as a long-term adaptation process rather than an immediate reaction to stress. Direct measurement of resilience may therefore be more appropriate than relying on observable stress responses to identify professionals at psychosocial risk. Future studies using longitudinal designs and larger samples are needed to clarify these relationships.