Abstract
Mental resilience is considered as an important factor that allows individuals to cope with stressors and setbacks, though its components may vary depending on cultural contexts. Study 1 (N = 107) validated and examined the factor structure of a widely used resilience measure (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale; CD-RISC) in the Singaporean context, and subsequently used it to test if the longitudinal relationship between resilience and psychological distress among college students would be mediated by academic burnout (Study 2). CD-RISC was correlated with perceived stress, social support, mental health and academic burnout in the expected directions. A 5-factor model was uncovered, interpreted as Approach Coping, Self-belief, Effort, Internal/ Interpersonal Resources, and Spirituality. Results of Study 2 (N = 97) showed that all variables were significantly correlated over time, demonstrating temporal stability. Mediational analyses showed that resilience predicted lower levels of academic burnout, which in turn led to lower psychological distress approximately three months later. The findings show that CD-RISC is a valid research tool in the Singaporean context, although the factors did not replicate those reported in previous studies. The findings also position resilience as a key candidate for promoting mental health among college students through interventions and programs.
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The authors thank Vania Yip for her insights and editorial suggestions.
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The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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This research was supported by the Yale-NUS College start-up grant awarded to the second author.
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This study was approved by the Yale-NUS College Ethics Review Committee and the Institutional Review Board at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
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Chue, J.S.X., Cheung, H.S. Mental resilience enhances the well-being of Singaporean college students through reducing burnout. Curr Psychol 42, 519–528 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01481-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01481-5