Assessing and Promoting Resilience: An Additional Tool to Address the Increasing Number of College Students With Psychological Problems

Savoring Belief, Resilience, and Meaning in Life as Pathways to Happiness: A Sequential Mediation Analysis among Taiwanese University Students

In recent decades, scholarly interest has grown in the psychological components of happiness. Savoring belief, or the capacity to attend to, appreciate, and enhance the positive experiences in one's life, along with resilience and meaning in life, have emerged as significant predictors of enhanced happiness among diverse populations. This research examined the interrelationships among savoring belief, resilience, meaning in life, and happiness. A sample of 561 students from 75 universities in Taiwan, comprising 361 female and 200 male participants with an average age of 20.88 years, participated in an online survey. The study employed various instruments, including the Savoring Belief Inventory, the Subjective Happiness Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. These instruments were translated into Traditional Chinese using a back-translation method and subsequently validated for accuracy by specialists in the field. Analysis of the data using Hayes' PROCESS Model 6 revealed several key insights: (1) savoring belief positively influenced happiness, resilience, and meaning in life with resilience further enhancing happiness and meaning in life; (2) resilience served as a significant mediator in the relationship between savoring belief and happiness; (3) meaning in life significantly mediated the relationship between savoring belief and happiness; (4) a sequential mediation model illustrated the mediating effects of resilience and meaning in life on the relationship between savoring belief and happiness. This study illustrates that, much like a garden requires water, sunlight, and care to flourish, our happiness is cultivated through enhancing our ability to savor the good moments, rebound from challenges, and find deep significance in our lives. We can significantly boost well-being by fostering these qualities-savoring belief, resilience, and a sense of meaning. These findings are particularly relevant for educators, highlighting the critical need to develop these traits in students to promote greater happiness and fulfillment in their lives. Discussions included theoretical implications, educational implications, and avenues for future research.

Multi-year investigation of a relaxation course with a mindfulness meditation component on college students' stress, resilience, coping and mindfulness

Examine the effects of a relaxation course with a mindfulness meditation component in a two-group pre-test and post-test non-randomized study design.

Participants included 219 undergraduate students (experimental group: n = 103; control group: n = 116), 18-43 years old.

Completion of measures of stress, resilience, coping and mindfulness at the beginning and end of the intervention.

The independent sample t-test analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in stress and maladaptive coping, and an increase in resilience in the experimental group compared to the control group.

Benefits were observed following the intervention by positively impacting factors associated with increased functioning in life. Classroom-based interventions could be considered beneficial for students.

Psychiatric comorbidity in emergency general surgery patients: a prospective observational study

Objectives

Annually, approximately 27 million individuals in the United States are admitted to hospitals for emergency general surgery (EGS). Approximately 50% develop postoperative complications and 22% require unplanned readmission within 90 days, highlighting a need to understand factors impacting well-being and recovery. Psychiatric comorbidity can impact medical treatment adherence, cost, and premature mortality risk. Despite the severity of illness in EGS, there is limited research on psychiatric comorbidity in EGS patients. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to characterize EGS patient mental health and to assess its relationship with pain, social support, and healthcare utilization (ie, length of stay, readmission).

Methods

Adult EGS patients were screened for participation during hospitalization. Inclusion criteria included: (1) 18 years or older, (2) communicate fluently in English, and (3) assessed within 7 days of admission. Participants (n=95) completed assessment, which included a structured clinical diagnostic interview. Record review captured medical variables, including length of stay, discharge disposition, narcotic prescription, and 90-day readmission rates.

Results

Ninety-five patients completed the assessment, and 31.6% met criteria for at least one current psychiatric diagnosis; 21.3% with a major depressive episode, 9.6% with a substance use disorder, and 7.5% with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Lower perceived social support and greater pain severity and interference were significantly related to more severe depression and anxiety. Depression was associated with longer length of stay, and those with PTSD were more likely to be re-admitted.

Conclusion

The EGS patient sample exhibited psychiatric disorder rates greater than the general public, particularly regarding depression and anxiety. Screening protocols and incorporation of psychological and social interventions may assist in recovery following EGS.

Level of evidence

Level II, prognostic.

Stressors and resilience are associated with well-being in young adult college students

Objective: The purposes were to describe stressors and resilience behaviors of college students and examine the relationships among stressors, resilience, and well-being. Hypothesis: Resilience will modify the relationship between stressors and well-being. Participants: The sample included 1,010 college students, ages 18-26, from an urban Midwestern university. Methods: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from an anonymous survey was conducted using multiple regression and simple slopes analysis. Results: Resilience did not modify the relationship between stressors and well-being. Stressors (β = -.44, p < .0001) and resilience (β = .33, p < .0001) accounted for 42% of the variance in well-being (adjusted R² = .42, F_2,999 = 365.98, p < .0001). The most frequently endorsed stressors were sleep problems, anxiety, and relationships. Conclusions: Stressors and resilience warrant special attention in the allocation of resources and development of programs to improve student well-being.

The effectiveness, acceptability, and sustainability of a 4-week DBT-informed group therapy in increasing psychological resilience for college students with mental health issues

OBJECTIVE

An adapted, time-limited dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills training group therapy can prove to be an evidence-based treatment that can easily fit the needs, demands, and limitations of University Counseling Centers to serve college students with mental disorders. The present naturalistic study investigated the effectiveness, acceptability, and sustainability of a 4-week DBT-informed group therapy in enhancing psychological resilience.

METHODS

Participants included 59 college students with heterogeneous mental health concerns. They attended weekly 1.5-hr DBT-informed, resilience-building group therapy for 4 weeks. Psychological resilience, mindfulness, emotional dysregulation, and overall distress were assessed at pretreatment and posttreatment, as well as at 1- and 3-month follow-ups.

RESULTS

Findings showed increased psychological resilience among the participants at posttreatment and follow-ups, and provided preliminary evidence for the role of mindfulness as an important contributor to enhancing psychological resilience even after controlling for risk factors, treatment dosage, pregroup psychological resilience, and changes in emotion dysregulation and overall distress.

CONCLUSION

A 4-week DBT-informed skills training group therapy can be utilized as a time-efficient, cost-effective, well-accepted preventative treatment with the potential longitudinal impact to boost psychological resilience for college students with mental health issues.

The Validation of the 10-Item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and Its Correlation to Emotional Intelligence and Life Satisfaction Among Vietnamese Late Adolescents

Literature has shown increasing research on resilience that can help young people deal with mental health problems and improve life satisfaction, well-being, and happiness. However, empirical evidence about the role of resilience has not been proved across cultures, especially in low- and middle-income countries. One of the reasons is the lack of valid measures for assessing resilience. Due to the sensitivity in the number of items and factors of the simple-to-use CD-RISC-10 in many studies, this study aims to achieve the following goals: (a) re-investigate the psychometric properties of CD-RISC-10 and compare those with other models to suggest a better fit structure among Vietnamese youth; (b) to explore the correlation between sociodemographic variables and resilience; (c) to examine the association between emotional intelligence and resilience; and (d) to examine the association between resilience and satisfaction of life. A cross-sectional school-based survey was conducted on 484 students. Findings revealed a valid and reliable scale of the Vietnamese version of the CD-RISC-10 with two subscales: Coping and Optimism. Resilience and its factors did not relate to sex and residence location. Findings showed a strong correlation between resilience, emotional intelligence, and life satisfaction. Emotional intelligence positively predicts resilience, which in turn positively predicts life satisfaction. Limitations and suggestions for future investigation are discussed in this paper.

Exploring the impact of a mindfulness meditation class on college student stress levels and quality of life

Objective: This study explored the differences in perceptions of stress levels and quality of life amongst college students enrolled in mindfulness meditation classes and those enrolled in an introductory holistic health class. Participants: 236 undergraduate students at a mid-sized university completed coursework and surveys. Methods: One-credit mindfulness meditation classes and an introductory holistic health class, serving as the control group, were offered over the course of one semester. Pre- and posttest questionnaires on stress and quality of life were administered to the participants. Results: Students enrolled in mindfulness meditation classes began with higher stress levels and lower perceptions of their quality of life compared to the control group. The mindfulness meditation class participants ended with both significantly lower stress levels and higher quality of life scores then the control group. Conclusions: Offering mindfulness meditation classes for credit may help promote positive mental health and well-being for students on a college campus.

Lower post-injury psychological resilience is associated with increased recovery time and symptom burden following sport-related concussion

The purpose of this study was to compare athletes with high and low resilience scores on concussion outcomes, and identify significant predictors associated with protracted recovery (>30 days). Forty-five adolescent and young adult athletes (28 males; aged 15.13 ± 2.74; range of 11-22) were diagnosed with an SRC within 14 days of injury (M = 4.9 days) and grouped as high or low resilience based on score on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10 (CD-RISC-10). Primary dependent measures included days to full clearance, Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS). The low resilience group (n = 22) had a longer recovery (36.0 ± 27.6 vs 17.8 ± 11.2 days), endorsed more mood symptoms (PCSS Affective cluster; 3.8 ± 0.8 vs 0.9 ± 0.7), and were more likely to have VOMS scores above cut off (p = 0.01-0.02), compared to those with high psychological resilience (n = 23). Logistic regression found low resilience scores was the only significant predictor for protracted recovery among injury characteristics and risk factors. Psychological resilience is a critical factor associated with recovery time following sport-related concussions. Low resilience was also associated with other poor clinical outcomes, greater subjective symptom report, more severe vestibular dysfunction, and elevated levels of mood symptoms following injury.

The influence of a manipulation of threat on experimentally-induced secondary hyperalgesia

Pain is thought to be influenced by the threat value of the particular context in which it occurs. However, the mechanisms by which a threat achieves this influence on pain are unclear. Here, we explore how threat influences experimentally-induced secondary hyperalgesia, which is thought to be a manifestation of central sensitization. We developed an experimental study to investigate the effect of a manipulation of threat on experimentally-induced secondary hyperalgesia in 26 healthy human adults (16 identifying as female; 10 as male). We induced secondary hyperalgesia at both forearms using high-frequency electrical stimulation. Prior to the induction, we used a previously successful method to manipulate threat of tissue damage at one forearm (threat site). The effect of the threat manipulation was determined by comparing participant-rated anxiety, perceived threat, and pain during the experimental induction of secondary hyperalgesia, between the threat and control sites. We hypothesized that the threat site would show greater secondary hyperalgesia (primary outcome) and greater surface area (secondary outcome) of induced secondary hyperalgesia than the control site. Despite a thorough piloting procedure to test the threat manipulation, our data showed no main effect of site on pain, anxiety, or threat ratings during high-frequency electrical stimulation. In the light of no difference in threat between sites, the primary and secondary hypotheses cannot be tested. We discuss reasons why we were unable to replicate the efficacy of this established threat manipulation in our sample, including: (1) competition between threats, (2) generalization of learned threat value, (3) safety cues, (4) trust, and requirements for participant safety, (5) sampling bias, (6) sample-specific habituation to threat, and (7) implausibility of (sham) skin examination and report. Better strategies to manipulate threat are required for further research on the mechanisms by which threat influences pain.

Life Purpose as a Predictor of Resilience and Persistence in College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which life purpose explained the variance in college students’ levels of resilience and persistence amidst COVID-19 pandemic. This study utilized a cross-sectional design and focused upon the three dimensions of life purpose: awareness of purpose, awakening to purpose, altruistic purpose. Structural equation modeling showed that both resilience and persistence were predicted positively by awakening to purpose when a traditional three-correlated factors model was used to specify the measure of life purpose. When a bifactor model was used, the general factor of purpose emerged as a positive predictor of both resilience and persistence. Additionally, awakening to purpose emerged as a positive predictor of resilience above and beyond the general factor of purpose. Practical implications of this study lie in supporting students to actively explore and fulfill their life’s purpose since doing so might strengthen their resilience and intent to persevere.

Resilience and Stress as Mediators in the Relationship of Mindfulness and Happiness

The aim of the present study was to examine the mediation effects of resilience and stress, two perceived opposite constructs, in the relationship between mindfulness and happiness. Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Subjective Happiness Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales short version-21 were administered to 523 undergraduate university students in India. Structural Equation Modeling with bootstrapping was applied to test the mediating effects of resilience and stress. Results showed that resilience and stress partially mediated the mindfulness-happiness relationship. In addition, resilience partially mediated the relationship of mindfulness to stress. Findings suggest that mindfulness may play an influential role in enhancing happiness through the mediating effects of resilience and stress.

Feasibility of Assessing Adolescent and Young Adult Heart Transplant Recipient Mental Health and Resilience Using Patient-Reported Outcome Measures

BACKGROUND

Although adolescents and young adults may be particularly prone to mental health symptoms after heart transplant, screening practices are variable.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility of using patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures to assess mental health, functional status, and resiliency in posttransplant adolescents and young adult patients.

METHODS

Patients transplanted between ages 15 and 25 years at 3 centers completed 6 PRO instruments via web-based platforms: PROMIS instruments for anxiety, depression, satisfaction with social roles, and physical functioning; the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version 5; and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10. Feasibility (completion, time to completion, and measure missingness) and PRO results were described and compared between patients with congenital heart disease and cardiomyopathy.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients (median age at transplant 17.7 y [interquartile range 16.3, 19.2 y], 84% male) were enrolled at an average of 3 ± 1.8 years after transplant. Enrollment was 90% among eligible patients. Measure missingness was zero. The average completion time was 12 ± 15 minutes for all instruments. Timely PRO completion was facilitated by in-clinic application. The PRO results indicated that 9 patients (47%) had at least mild posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (≥11 points on Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version 5). Among them, 4 patients had scores >28 suggestive of probable posttraumatic stress disorder. Two (11%) and 6 (32%) patients had anxious and depressive symptoms, respectively. The cardiomyopathy cohort had a higher median Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version 5 score than that of the congenital heart disease subgroup (11.0 vs 6.0; P = 0.015). Twelve (63%) had resiliency scores that were lower than the population average. No significant differences were found in PRO results between patients with cardiomyopathy and congenital heart disease apart from the posttraumatic stress disorder assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel PRO-based approach to psychiatric screening of adolescents and young adult patients after transplant appears feasible for assessing mental health, functional status, and resiliency, with excellent enrollment and completion rates. These instruments characterized the burden of mental health symptoms within this adolescents and young adult heart transplant cohort, with a high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Resiliency scores were lower than in a comparison population. Electronically-administered PRO administration could facilitate more consistent mental health screening in this at-risk group.

The relationship between career adaptability, hope, resilience, and life satisfaction for hospitality students in times of Covid-19

This study investigates the antecedents and effects of hospitality students' coping mechanisms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The relationship between career adaptability, hope, resilience, and life satisfaction are explored to unveil students' adaptability during times of crisis. The findings confirmed that hope is an important driver of resilience and life satisfaction. Despite all the negativity and uncertainty about jobs and careers during the COVID-19 pandemic, resilience has a double acting effect on the students' life satisfaction via individual and community resilience. Critical implications for academic institutions and the hospitality industry are presented. As the industry recovers from the pandemic and moves toward normality, the potential impact of career adaptability, hope, resilience, and life satisfaction on future job pursuit and career magnetism towards particular industry or organizations should be considered.

Resilience in 2021: Descriptive analysis of individuals accessing virtual mental health services (Preprint)

Background

Psychological resilience has been extensively studied by developmental researchers, and there is a growing body of literature regarding its role in psychiatry and psychopathology research and practice. This study contributes to this growing literature by providing real-world evidence on the relationship between resilience and clinical symptoms among a large sample of employed Americans.

Objective

This study aimed to describe resilience levels in individuals accessing Ginger, a virtual mental health system, in addition to the association of resilience with demographic characteristics, baseline depression, and anxiety symptoms.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective observational study of 9165 members who signed up for Ginger and completed a baseline survey between January 1 and August 5, 2021. We used multivariate regression models to test for associations between baseline resilience and other member characteristics.

Results

Baseline resilience scores centered on a mean of 23.84 (SD 6.56) and median of 24 (IQR 8) out of 40, with 81.0% (7424/9165) of the sample having low resilience at baseline. Despite having relatively higher resilience scores, members with no or mild depression or anxiety still had low resilience scores on average. Self-reported suicidal ideation was associated with lower resilience.

Conclusions

Overall, members had low baseline resilience, similar to resilience levels observed in trauma survivors in prior studies. Younger members and those with higher levels of depression and anxiety at intake reported lower levels of resilience at baseline. Notably, members with no or mild depression or anxiety still had low resilience scores on average, suggesting a need for mental health support among individuals who might not typically be recommended for treatment based on traditional clinical assessments, such as the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). Two suggestions for topics of future research are to develop treatment recommendations based on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and to understand the interaction between resilience levels and symptom-based outcome measures, such as the PHQ-9 and the GAD-7.

Medical students' engagement in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: The influence of psychological factors on readiness to volunteer

Objective: To avert staff shortages during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in spring 2020, the medical faculties of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) appealed to their students to volunteer for relief work. In this study, we examine the influence of psychological factors on the students' decisions to respond to this call or not. Methodology: We report on a cross-sectional study based on an online survey among medical students at the TUM and LMU. The survey consisted of a questionnaire containing items on motivation and other factors related to the decision for or against volunteering. Questions were also asked about anxieties regarding COVID-19 and the occurrence of depressive symptoms, as well as about resilience. Results: Responses from 244 participants were analysed. Students' decisions to volunteer revealed both altruistic and introjected motivations. For those students who did not volunteer, time overlaps and workload related to other activities played an important role. Between the two groups, no significant difference was detected in terms of their resilience and COVID-19-related anxieties. However, the non-volunteering students reported a significantly higher prevalence of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Sense of duty and the desire to help were, according to the students, the most important reasons for volunteering. Depressive symptoms and lack of time made volunteering less likely. Resilience and COVID-19-related anxieties do not seem to have had any influence on the decision to volunteer or not.

Modifiable Factors Influencing Resilience among Medical Interns

Resilience among the medical interns is essential and is protective against the state of burnout. However, it is not thoroughly investigated among medical interns. Is there any behavioural and modifiable factors influencing resilience? The objective of this study is to determine the level of resilience among medical interns in Malaysia and its associated factors. This nationwide cross-sectional study recruited medical interns from 17 randomly selected Malaysian hospitals accredited for medical intern training. All medical interns who reported to the selected hospitals from January to April 2020 were invited to answer an online questionnaire. The questionnaire incorporated Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10 (CD-RISC-10) for resilience, USMEQ-i to measure emotional quotient, Brief-Cope to assess coping styles, Preparedness for Hospital Practice Questionnaire (PHPQ test) to assess internship preparedness and questions related to sociodemographic, undergraduate training and interest to become a doctor.<strong> </strong>524 from 870 medical interns (60.2%) responded. Mean resilience score was 28.6 (SD = 6.33). Significant factors associated with resilience include active involvement in sports (p = 0.002), high EQ (p&lt;0.001), interest to become a doctor (p&lt;0.001), coping using humour (p&lt;0.001), less coping by venting (p&lt;0.001) and no failures in any clinical posting (p = 0.012). The regression model was substantiated by adjusted R2 of 62.8%. Factors affecting resilience among medical interns include modifiable factors such as coping styles and involvement in sports. The findings could guide targeted intervention to promote during medical schools or internship preparation programmes to increase resilience among medical interns.

An evaluation of My Strengths Training for Life™ for improving resilience and well-being of young people experiencing homelessness

This community-based study investigated whether (1) a novel sport psychology informed positive youth development program, My Strengths Training for Life™, improved resilience and well-being and (2) young people differed in outcomes according to demographics (gender, ethnicity, social inclusion, and learning difficulty). A total of 246 young people (M age = 19.74, SD = 2.31) living in a large housing service completed questionnaires on demographics, mental skills, and pre and postprogram resilience and well-being. Baseline differences in resilience and well-being existed for ethnicity and learning difficulty status but did not influence MST4Life™ outcomes. There was a significant improvement in resilience and well-being over time, which was associated with mental skills development. Implications apply for policy, program commissioners, and research: (1) novel sport psychology interventions can improve the well-being of disadvantaged youth, and (2) demographics at baseline should be considered in intervention planning and evaluation with this population.

Psychological resilience and current stressful events as potential mediators between adverse childhood experiences and depression among college students in Eritrea

BACKGROUND

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are well recognized remote risks for adulthood depression. However, proximal processes for this relationship is still an ongoing research endeavor, particularly among college students living in resource-limited settings. The mechanism of the impact of ACEs on depression may be attributed to mediators such as psychological resilience and current stressful events (CSEs).

METHODS

Data was obtained using a cross-sectional study from a national representative sample of college undergraduates in Eritrea (N = 507). To explain the mediated effect of ACEs on depression, a mediation analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed.

RESULTS

ACEs were found to have both direct (β = 0.102, p = 0.023) and indirect (β = 0.216, p < 0.001) effects on depression. The indirect effect was negatively mediated by psychological resilience and positively by CSEs. Respondents with higher levels of psychological resilience reported lower depressive symptoms and lower ACEs scores, while those with higher scores of either CSEs or ACEs reported more depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of ACEs on depression may be reduced by managing current stressors and building students' psychological resilience.

The Role of Patient and Parental Resilience in Adolescents with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

OBJECTIVES

To assess the level of resilience among patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and their parents and to determine factors associated with patient and parental resilience.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional cohort study of children aged 13-17 years diagnosed with chronic musculoskeletal pain and their parents. Patient-parent pairs were seen for initial consultation in the pediatric rheumatology pain clinic at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia between March and May 2018 and were administered a series of questionnaires including measures of resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10 item, The 14-item Resilience Scale, and the 7Cs of Resilience Tool). We calculated Pearson correlation coefficients to examine the relationship between the variables of interest and resilience.

RESULTS

According to all resilience measures, patients and parents had low to moderate levels of resilience. These levels were lower than those previously reported among healthy populations, as well as those with chronic medical conditions. According to the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10 item, patient-level resilience was negatively correlated with pain level (r = -0.48), physical disability (r = -0.54), and symptom severity (r = -0.53). The level of resilience among patients was positively correlated with energy level (r = 0.57) and health-related quality of life (r = 0.64). Parental resilience was positively correlated with parental mental health (r = 0.61).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher patient resilience was correlated with reduced disease severity among adolescents with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Future research should explore whether fostering resilience in adolescents with chronic musculoskeletal pain via the application of resilience-training interventions mitigates disease burden in this vulnerable patient population.

Prevalence of psychological distress and the effects of resilience and perceived social support among Chinese college students: Does gender make a difference?

This study aimed to examine the gender differences in the prevalence of psychological distress, and in the effects of resilience and perceived social support on psychological distress among Chinese college students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in current study. The psychological distress, resilience, and perceived social support of 1400 university students of China were measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the 12-item Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, respectively. Multiple group analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling to examine the moderating role of gender in the effects of resilience and perceived social support on psychological distress. The prevalence of psychological distress was 90.86%. Female college students reported a higher prevalence of psychological distress (94.07%) than males (89.11%). Among male college students, the resilience was more strongly associated with psychological distress than perceived social support (-0.18 vs.-0.16). In contrast, among female college students, resilience was not significantly related, but perceived social support was closely related with psychological distress (0.01 vs. -0.31). In conclusion, Chinese female college students are more vulnerable to psychological distress than males. Gender moderates the relationships among resilience, perceived social support, and psychological distress.

The Feasibility of Embedding Data Collection into the Routine Service Delivery of a Multi-Component Program for High-Risk Young People

Background: There is little evidence about how to improve outcomes for high-risk young people, of whom Indigenous young people are disproportionately represented, due to few evaluation studies of interventions. One way to increase the evidence is to have researchers and service providers collaborate to embed evaluation into the routine delivery of services, so program delivery and evaluation occur simultaneously. This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating best-evidence measures into the routine data collection processes of a service for high-risk young people, and identify the number and nature of risk factors experienced by participants. Methods: The youth service is a rural based NGO comprised of multiple program components: (i) engagement activities; (ii) case management; (iii) diversionary activities; (iv) personal development; and (v) learning and skills. A best-evidence assessment tool was developed by staff and researchers and embedded into the service’s existing intake procedure. Assessment items were organised into demographic characteristics and four domains of risk: education and employment; health and wellbeing; substance use; and crime. Descriptive data are presented and summary risk variables were created for each domain of risk. A count of these summary variables represented the number of co-occurring risks experienced by each participant. The feasibility of this process was determined by the proportion of participants who completed the intake assessment and provided research consent. Results: This study shows 85% of participants completed the assessment tool demonstrating that data on participant risk factors can feasibly be collected by embedding a best-evidence assessment tool into the routine data collection processes of a service. The most prevalent risk factors were school absence, unemployment, suicide ideation, mental distress, substance use, low levels of physical activity, low health service utilisation, and involvement in crime or with the juvenile justice system. All but one participant experienced at least two co-occurring domains of risk, and the majority of participants (58%) experienced co-occurring risk across four domains. Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate that best-evidence measures can feasibly be embedded into the routine data collection processes of a service for high-risk young people. This process allows services to tailor their activities to the most prevalent risks experienced by participants, and monitor these risks over time. Replication of this process in other services would improve the quality of services, facilitate more high quality evaluations of services, and contribute evidence on how to improve outcomes for high-risk young people.

Randomized controlled trial of the Resilience and Coping Intervention (RCI) with undergraduate university students

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the Resilience and Coping Intervention (RCI) with college students.

PARTICIPANTS

College students (aged 18-23) from a large Midwest US university who volunteered for a randomized controlled trial during the 2015 spring semester.

METHODS

College students were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 64) or a control (n = 65) group. Intervention participants received three 45-minute RCI sessions over subsequent weeks. All participants completed pre- and post-intervention assessments at the beginning of Week 1 and end of Week 3. Student resilience, coping, hope, stress, depression, and anxiety were assessed.

RESULTS

RCI participants reported significantly more hope and less stress and depression from Week 1 to Week 3 compared with control participants. Results for resilience also approached statistical significance. Effect sizes were small to moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found preliminary evidence that RCI is an effective resilience intervention for use with college students.

The costly burden of an inauthentic self: insecure self-esteem predisposes to emotional exhaustion by increasing reactivity to negative events

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

A long research tradition has investigated the impact of stress on university students by assuming that individuals have a limited reservoir of resources, and that negative events and circumstances progressively drain resources thereby producing exhaustion. A recent research tradition, instead, has focused on the detrimental consequences of discrepant levels of implicit (ISE) and explicit (ESE) self-esteem on the development of stress-related symptoms. The present research attempted to merge the aforementioned approaches, with the aim of explaining significant predictors of stress.

DESIGN

Within the framework of a Longitudinal Structural Equation Model, we followed a moderated-mediated approach.

METHOD

A sample of university students (N = 209; 66% females) completed a questionnaire battery including measures of ISE, ESE, perceptions of negative events, and emotional exhaustion. Participants were assessed once a week for eight consecutive weeks.

RESULTS

ISE significantly moderated the relationship between ESE and negative events; in turn, the latter significantly predicted emotional exhaustion. Monte Carlo method for assessing mediation showed that negative events significantly mediated the relationship between incongruent self-esteem and emotional exhaustion.

CONCLUSIONS

The detrimental role of incongruent self-esteem has been corroborated. Practical implications and suggestions for future research dealing with stress in a university setting were provided.

The 10-Item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale: Factorial Structure, Reliability, Validity, and Correlates Among Student Nurses in Southwestern Nigeria

BACKGROUND

The 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) has demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties as a measure of resilience in all the previous studies conducted in developed countries.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to explore the psychometric characteristics of the 10-item CD-RISC among students nurses in southwestern Nigeria.

DESIGN

This descriptive cross-sectional study involved a total of 449 student nurses who completed the 10-item CD-RISC in addition to measures of self-esteem, depression, religiosity, and psychological distress.

RESULTS

The scale demonstrated adequate reliability (Cronbach's α = .81) and satisfactory validity with significant correlations with the measures of self-esteem, depression, religiosity, and psychological distress. Factor analyses revealed that resilience was best explained by a two-factor construct.

CONCLUSIONS

The scale is a valid measure of resilience among Nigerian student nurses.

Predictors of Resilience and Thriving Among Latina/o Undergraduate Students

Previous studies of Latina/o well-being indicate that supportive family members, religion or spirituality, and cultural values (e.g., familismo) aid in coping with adversities. The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of several factors (spirituality, hope, social support, and cultural values) in predicting resilience and thriving in Latina/o undergraduates ( N = 121). Two hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the unique contributions of the predictors to resilience and thriving. Results demonstrated differences between resilience and thriving as evidenced by the fact that they have different predictor variables. For example, hope was a predictor variable for both constructs, but spirituality was a significant predictor only for thriving. Implications for research and practice and future directions are discussed.

Investigating the Relationship of Resilience to Academic Persistence in College Students With Mental Health Issues

In this study, the relationships between measures of inter- and intrapersonal resilience and mental health were examined with respect to academic persistence in college students with mental health issues. A sample of 121 undergraduate students with mental health issues was recruited from campus mental health offices offering college counseling, psychiatric support, and disability support at two midwestern universities. Hierarchal (or sequential) regression analysis examined whether the resilience and mental health measures contributed to explaining variance in the response variables of university cumulative grade point average and time to credits completed. The results indicated that intrapersonal resilience was more important and operated differently for students with the most psychological distress. Furthermore, there was a strong statistical correlation between the resilience factors and mental health. The results indicate that a resilience framework may assist college students with mental health issues to cope more effectively with the complexities of college learning and improve college retention.