The scientific research into how naturally resilient people are based on genetics is something of a mixed bag. Yes, there appears to be some hereditary link that means some people are more likely to be resilient than others, but there are many environmental factors at play, too. Certainly, children who have tough upbringings are often found to be more resilient than others in later life, but there is no proven causal link, and even siblings can go either way with their resilience levels. In the end, it appears that more resilient people have neural pathways that help them to cope. Whether these are innate or a result of neuroplasticity is an open question. However, some receptor genes appear to be at play, such as NPYergic and HPA Axis. These are already known to contribute to certain anxiety disorders among teenagers and adults.
Join now for new articles and open discussions about resilience regularly.