Whatever doesn't hurt us too much can make us stonger

The title on the article is "Study Confirms: Whatever Doesn't Kill Us Can Make Us Stronger", but that is not at all what the study found.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101015125645.htm

----- (skipping)

But in this study of a national survey panel of 2,398 subjects assessed repeatedly from 2001 to 2004, Seery and co-researchers found those exposed to some adverse events reported better mental health and well-being outcomes than people with a high history of adversity or those with no history of adversity.

----- (skipping)

"Our findings revealed," he says, "that a history of some lifetime adversity -- relative to both no adversity or high adversity -- predicted lower global distress, lower functional impairment, lower PTS symptoms and higher life satisfaction."

The team also found that, across these same longitudinal outcome measures, people with a history of some lifetime adversity appeared less negatively affected by recent adverse events than other individuals.

Although these data cannot establish causation, Seery says the evidence is consistent with the proposition that in moderation, experiencing lifetime adversity can contribute to the development of resilience.

----- (skipping)

..