Examining the relationships between resilience, mental health, and academic persistence in undergraduate college students

J Am Coll Health. 2011;59(7):596-604. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2010.515632.

Abstract

Objective: In this study, the relationships between measures of interpersonal resilience, intrapersonal resilience, and mental health were examined with respect to academic and social integration, key determinants of academic persistence.

Participants: A sample (n = 605) of undergraduate students was recruited from 2 midwestern universities during the 2007-2008 academic year.

Methods: Hierarchal (or sequential) regression analysis examined whether the inter- and intrapersonal resilience and mental health measures contributed to explaining variance in the response variables of university cumulative grade point average (GPA) and university sense of belonging.

Results: The intrapersonal resilience factors contributed to explaining variance in cumulative GPA in addition to aptitude and achievement. Furthermore, there was a strong statistical correlation between the inter- and intrapersonal resilience factors and mental health.

Conclusions: The demands in college are significant and there is a need for more research on the concept of resilience as it relates to college health and academic persistence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adult
  • Attitude
  • Counseling
  • Data Collection
  • Educational Measurement / methods*
  • Educational Measurement / statistics & numerical data
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Health*
  • Psychometrics
  • Regression Analysis
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Stress, Psychological*
  • Students / psychology*
  • Students / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Universities / statistics & numerical data*