The sociocultural ecology of resilience: A comparative study among women in the United Kingdom

Resilience is often framed as an internal, individual process. However, this perspective overlooks the complex relationship between individuals and their social and ecological contexts. Drawing on insights from evolutionary anthropology, psychology, and public health, this paper explores how women who use drugs from two regions in the United Kingdom perceive resilience and navigate intricate sociocultural environments of recovery. It also considers factors that promote resilience and those that can cause harm. This study was conducted in two regions of England: Northeast England (n=14), including Newcastle upon Tyne and Durham, and Greater London (n=10). Participants, who were actively engaged in recovery services, participated in one-on-one in-depth interviews that included questions about their perceptions of and direct experiences with substance use and recovery. They were also asked to share their journeys into addiction and subsequent recovery while reflecting on the barriers and facilitators to recovery for women in their community. Our findings support a growing body of research that emphasizes recovery as a relational process. Women in Northeast England and London relied on social networks, particularly through peer meetings, to navigate their recovery. Additionally, key themes included the impact of community and institutional harm, particularly in promoting isolation and emotional distress. This study highlights the significance of social learning and relational resilience in addiction recovery, framed within a sociocultural-ecological model. These findings underscore that recovery is not solely an individual process but one deeply embedded in broader sociocultural and relational dynamics.