Constructing Anticipatory Resilience Through Relational Resources: Examining the Role of Disclosure and Social Support in Resilience Enactment Among Young Adults with Hypertension

Despite the prevalence of hypertension among young adults and its disruptive impact on daily life, limited research has examined how individuals draw on anticipatory resilience − discursive resources developed over time − to communicatively address hypertension-related challenges. Guided by the communication theory of resilience (CTR), this study investigated disclosure and social support as relational sources of anticipatory resilience. Data from 438 Chinese adults aged 18–44 years old with hypertension indicated that disclosure was positively associated with communicative resilience enactment via self-efficacy for managing chronic illness, which, in turn, predicted adherenence to medical recommendations and mental health. Social support was also significantly linked to participants' engagement in resilience processes. The findings offer theoretical insights into the mechanisms through which different sources of anticipatory resilience influence resilience enactment, as well as practical implications for designing communicative strategies that foster resilience and promote adherence to medication and lifestyle recommendations among young adults with hypertension.