The epidemic situation caused by the coronavirus has also severely affected European
societies, with curfews and other restrictive measures changing people's daily lives.
In the last phase of the epidemic, Századvég Foundation conducted a questionnaire
survey in Hungary in the summer of 2021. Based on the data, it became clear that the
psychological approach widely used to study resilience is only partially suitable
for sociological studies based on the concept of resilience through survey data collection
methods. Following some theoretical and some methodological insights, our new research
in 2023 sought to develop a set of questions that could be used in cross-sectional
research, focusing on sociological aspects and taking greater account of the individual's
social relations. In designing the index, which is based on 20 statements, we took
into account the theoretical literature that underpins the concept of resilience,
as well as our own and others' empirical research. Each item sought to measure different
aspects of resilience, for example agency and coping, abilities of being able to contact
with others and to redesign, stress tolerance and creativity. The questions of the
Experience of Resilience Index will be assessed on the basis of a large sample questionnaire
survey that is representative of the Hungarian adult population according to the main
socio-demographic criteria. In this presentation we will present the results of the
testing of the instrument – based partly on quantitative data (the survey included
additional standard question sets like individual and social resilience, stress, social
support) and partly on complementary qualitative research (eighteen focus group discussions).
