Cercetarea rezilienței sociale: aspecte metodologice [Articol]

Abstract

The research on social resilience developed a comprehensive evaluation framework tailo red for the Republic of Moldova, drawing on established models like the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, Community-Based Resilience Analysis (CoBRA), and the USAID methodological framework. These approaches emphasize the participation of local communities, multidimensi onal analysis, and adaptability to specific contexts. The methodology assesses social resilience across four main dimensions: (1) Individual Capacity – the ability of individuals to cope with stress and challenges; (2) Social Capital – the presence of community support, participation, and social solidarity; (3) Access to Resources – availability of essential services, personal safety, and necessary infrastructure; (4) Adaptability – economic resilience, infrastructure reliability, insti tutional effectiveness, and the capacity to adapt to stress. A composite social resilience indicator was constructed as the arithmetic mean of the four dimensions, with each dimension comprising several subdimensions and items, which were validated and weighted through statistical analyses like factor analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). Key findings show that: (1) Most people have good access to resources and a high level of individual capacity to cope with difficul ties; (2)Social capital is relatively low, indicating weaker social cohesion and community partici pation; (3) Adaptability is moderate, suggesting room for improvement in responding to collecti ve challenges; (4) The overall social resilience index stands at a moderate level (0.5456 on a 0–1 scale). The study concludes that while individuals have strengths in coping with and accessing resources, community-level resilience is weakened by less developed social networks and adapta bility. The research highlights the need for integrated, mixed-method approaches, including both quantitative and qualitative analysis—and continuous monitoring to foster sustainable, balanced social resilience. Strengthening social capital and adaptability through community involvement and institutional collaboration is essential for improving the overall resilience of society.