Abstract:
The global increase in mental health issues among university students, particularly their
heightened vulnerability to anxiety and depression, underscores the need for more research on
the mental health issues that are unique to the higher education context. Limited research has
examined from a neurobiological perspective, the facets of resilience, despite the protective
function that overall resilience may have in mitigating the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The aim of the current study was to explore the relative contribution of total resilience and facets
of resilience on the variance observed on depression and anxiety outcomes among university
students. This study entailed a secondary data analysis. The sample of this study comprised 135
university students.
The Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Predictive 6-Factor Resilience Scale (a neurobiological
resilience measure), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory comprised the assessment battery used in
this study. The data analysis method used was Multivariate Analysis of Covariance
(MANCOVA) and multiple regression analysis. The findings indicated that resilience and the
distinct facets of resilience such as Tenacity and Momentum accounted for significant variance
in depression and anxiety outcomes among students. In the context of universities, where student
support divisions have limited resources and are overburdened with an increased demand for
student mental health services, novel interventions to building resilience is necessary.
