Developmental variables
Developmental variables refer to life developmental processes
that can include age, maturity level, educational level, and previous
history of stress-invoking events. According to Neuman
and Fawcett (2011) health and wellness are maintained based
on a person’s ability to effectively respond to both positive and
negative events. Resilience has been described as a developmental
process that can be cultivated and fostered throughout
life (APA, 2014; Cameron & Brownie, 2010; McAllister &
McKinnon, 2009). Its development is “the direct result of
experience, complex skills and knowledge required to manage
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216 Nursing Science Quarterly 28(3)
time, crisis situations, and prioritize tasks and staff “(Cameron
& Brownie, 2010, p.68). These are skills necessary for nurses
working in demanding healthcare environments. A nurse’s age
and years of experience may also have an impact on stress
level, as older nurses were shown to more effectively manage
and adapt to stress, thereby enhancing resilience (Gillespie,