Lee Studies Resilience Factors Amongst College Students
Posted: 12/7/2023 (CSDE Research)
CSDE Affiliate Dr. Chiyoung Lee (Nursing) co-authored a study in the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, entitled “Identification of Relationships Among Resilience Factors Using Network Analysis: A Pilot Study“. Although college life can be fulfilling, it can be stressful, particularly for health professional students. In addition, they may have had Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) that increases their sensitivity to academic stress. Yet, students need to overcome challenges to become successful professionals. This study sought to identify the relationships among factors associated with resilience using network analysis. The network analysis revealed positive associations between (1) mental health and sense of coherence (SOC); (2) mental health and resources; (3) mental health and social support; (4) SOC and reappraisal of emotional regulation; (5) resources and reappraisal of emotion regulation; and (6) resources and social support. In addition, SOC and academic stress were negatively associated. Furthermore, the short variant of 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 was associated with stronger suppression of emotion regulation and fewer resources compared with the long variant. Lee and colleagues conclude that Resilience may be influenced by biopychosocial factors, notably SOC and 5-HTTLPR/rs25531. However, they also recommend that further longitudinal research is needed with a larger sample size to better understand how these and other factors may affect resilience.