The Impact of Medical Social Workers on Enhancing Patient Resilience and Recovery After Trauma

Abstract

Resilience research has traditionally focused on individual-level psychosocial factors that enhance resilience, but recent developments have expanded the focus to include neurobiological and systemic factors. This study examines the role of medical social workers in promoting resilience and facilitating recovery for trauma-exposed patients by addressing the systems-level support structures within which patients operate. By functioning as intermediaries, social workers enhance resilience by ensuring patients access emotional, informational, and instrumental support, which has been shown to significantly improve psychological well-being and reduce recovery time. Our analysis suggests that patient resilience is deeply interwoven with broader social systems—such as family, community, and healthcare networks—and that resilience operates through bidirectional influences across these layers. For example, individuals with strong social support tend to recover faster and with greater psychological stability, while families and communities supporting them also benefit from strengthened resilience. This study calls for future research and intervention designs that reinforce social networks and integrate social work services as standard practice in trauma care. By prioritizing these services within healthcare policies, systems can more effectively promote patient resilience and mitigate the long-term impacts of trauma on individuals and communities.