87 individual transilience in the face of the covid-19 pandemic studies. Such studies could examine whether people indeed can perceive general transilience (i.e., in the face of ‘adversity’ without further specification), and if this can in turn predict adaptive responses and mental health across different specific types of adversities (e.g., climate change risks, other epidemics, personal trauma). Limitations and Future Research Our research has some limitations that can be addressed in future studies. First, our studies focused on Italy and The Netherlands, which had varying levels of severity and preparedness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the question remains whether similar findings would emerge in other countries, facing different threats and having different political systems. Future research could aim to replicate our findings in countries with different healthcare systems, government policies, and resources. In this regard, it is crucial to include samples from non-WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, and Democratic) countries, which may have responded to the pandemic differently. For example, the African continent exhibited unexpectedly low rates of mortality and disease despite limited resources and high vulnerability (Maeda & Nkengasong, 2021). Replicating our study in such distinct contexts would not only allow to validate the robustness of transilience, but also provide insights into contextual factors that may influence the relationship between transilience, adaptive responses, and mental health. These factors may likely encompass local and personal resources, as well as prior experiences with similar risks (cf. Cinner & Barnes, 2019). Exploring transilience across diverse contexts and cultures is important for comprehending the conditions under which transilience can foster adaptive responses and well-being in the face of pandemics and other adversities. While our research aimed to capture a wide range of adaptive responses, including individual and collective adaptation behaviours, well-being, and personal positive change, future research could explore additional relevant outcome variables. Specifically, future studies could consider examining transformative behaviours that better align with the essence of transilience, namely going beyond mere ‘bouncing back’. Such transformative behaviours could involve actively challenging and reshaping the existing dynamics within local healthcare systems, for example advocating for meaningful engagement of marginalized communities in the design and delivery of health interventions, along with identifying and dismantling barriers to equitable access to care (Haldane & Morgan, 2021; King et al., 2020). Additionally, political forms of collective action, such as protesting or lobbying for healthcare reforms, could provide valuable insights as they typically advocate for radical changes at the system level (Van Zomeren & Iyer, 2009). 3
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