Sources of Resilience As Predictors of Well-Being 1
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SOURCES OF RESILIENCE AS PREDICTORS OF WELL-BEING 1 Sources of Resilience as Potential Predictors of Well-Being in College Students Alyssa J. Miville and Erin N. Smith Department of Psychology, Susquehanna University SOURCES OF RESILIENCE AS PREDICTORS OF WELL-BEING 2 Abstract When it comes to balancing different areas of life, college students have many obstacles to overcome. From focusing on academic life, to carving out time for friends, family and other loved ones, to planning for the near and distant future, students have plenty of life domains to split their attention between. Fortunately, many students, no matter their class year, possess sources of resilience that can help them overcome the challenges and stressors that come with balancing these important roles and responsibilities. In the present study, we look at two sources of individual resilience (i.e., religiosity and family cohesion) and their impact on students’ overall well-being, assessed through stress, hope, and self-esteem levels. A sample of 253 college students was pooled from Susquehanna University’s campus and responses were collected using an online survey through Qualtrics. To test our hypotheses, three multiple linear regressions were run. Results indicated support for most of our hypotheses. Greater levels of both family cohesion and religiosity were significantly related to higher self-esteem and lower stress levels, and greater religiosity was significantly related to more hope. However, our results did not indicate that greater family cohesion is significantly related to higher levels of hope. Overall, our study’s findings suggest that there are several complex and interrelated resilience factors that contribute to the well-being of college students. Keywords: resilience, family cohesion, religiosity, college students, well-being, spirituality, hope SOURCES OF RESILIENCE AS PREDICTORS OF WELL-BEING 3 Sources of Resilience as Potential Predictors of Well-Being in College Students College students often face challenges when it comes to balancing a variety of life domains. These life domains include their academics, social and family life, health and fitness, and future planning. Keeping in mind that students are also sons, daughters, parents, siblings, friends, members of social organizations, and/or partners, they may struggle with effective time management. This includes balancing social and academic pressures, delaying or putting off healthy behaviors (such as exercise or sleep) for more pressing deadlines, and avoiding future planning in order to take care of present concerns (Tan-Wilson & Stamp, 2015). It is evident that the obstacles that come with balancing an array of life domains are interconnected and impact one another. Fortunately, students possess a great deal of resilience to help them overcome this. Resilience, as defined by the American Psychological Association, is “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or even significant sources of stress” (2014). This definition, although compact and useful, fails to shed light on the complex nature of resilience, as many biological, psychological, social and cultural factors interact with one another to determine how one responds to stressful experiences (Southwick et al., 2014). Stress is not a simple “stimulus-response” reaction, but rather an interaction between an individual and the environment (Lecic-Tosevski et al., 2011). In essence, our response to stress primarily takes place in the context of resources that are available to us, including, but not limited to, our interactions with other people, our own cultural and religious practices, and the organizations and communities that we are each involved in (Sherrieb et al., 2010; Walsh, 2006). Each of these contexts may help individuals become more or less resilient when facing challenges and stressors. To this effect, two well-researched contexts that could serve as potential sources of resilience for college students are one’s family and whether or not they are religious or spiritual in nature. SOURCES OF RESILIENCE AS PREDICTORS OF WELL-BEING 4 Literature Review Family Cohesion and Good Family Communication In reviewing the literature, research indicates that a good sense of family communication and a healthy amount of family time can often buffer an individual’s risk of negative health and relationship outcomes at any age (Black & Lobo, 2008). This finding makes sense, as individuals are likely to have a desire for close family ties and support when it comes to many scenarios in life. Whether these scenarios are positive life milestones (e.g., obtaining a driver’s license, getting married, graduating from school) or serious, personal hardships (e.g., losing a loved one or experiencing health complications), having close family members to lean on for support is beneficial, especially in cases of personal hardship. O’Brien (2017) proposed a model of family and kinship across generations, which suggests that close connections created within active family systems and communities are helpful in teaching individuals to cope with life struggles over time. From this suggestion, it can be stated that the formation of healthy relationships and effective coping resources is part of what inspires individuals to become more resilient. The idea of a healthy family system can be found in other studies. Borchet et al. (2016) looked at parentification, in which a child or adolescent accepts roles and obligations that are typically fulfilled by adults. The researchers found that stronger bonds between adolescents and their parents, as well as greater levels of adolescent satisfaction regarding one’s family life, were better associated with more positive reviews of parentification and its effect on children in the family. Interestingly enough, the researchers concluded that when the family system is functioning effectively through the eyes of the adolescent (i.e., they have a good sense of family cohesion), then that adolescent can go on to use family resources to positively reformulate even the most negative experiences (Borchet et al., 2016). This finding showcases a great deal of SOURCES OF RESILIENCE AS PREDICTORS OF WELL-BEING 5 resilience in adolescent family members, which is promising to think about as these adolescents mature into educated young adults. A related study conducted by Feldman et al. (2018) looked at how family cohesion and support within families is often considered a predictor of students’ effort-investment and success in school. Results of this study supported the important contribution of family cohesion, as well as the mediating role of hope (as a protective factor), in predicting students’ success and efforts in school (Feldman et al., 2018). While the literature clearly suggests that the family unit can have a major impact on children and adolescents, few studies have looked specifically at the effects of family cohesion and family communication on the adjustment of college students, both initially and throughout the college experience. A study conducted by Uruk et al. (2007) examined how both family cohesion and adaptability impact college students’ trauma symptoms and psychological well-being. Results revealed family cohesion and adaptability to have a significant unique variance in a sample of 189 undergraduate students (Uruk et al., 2007). Guassi Moreira and Telzer (2015) surveyed 338 college freshmen prior to attending college, and then again two months into their first semester, and found that young adults who reported increases in family cohesion also reported notable declines in depressive symptoms during their college transition. Another study looked at Brazilian university students, with ages between 18 and 35 (Fiorini & Bardagi, 2018). Fiorini and Bardagi (2018) found that university students with higher levels of differentiation of self and better career adaptability not only showed better ability to balance cohesion and flexibility in family interaction, but also more satisfaction and positive perceptions of communication in relation to the family unit. While this study partially examined family cohesion and communication in relation to college students (i.e., how students balance and perceive family SOURCES OF RESILIENCE AS PREDICTORS OF WELL-BEING 6 life), the study failed to look at the effects that family cohesion and good family communication (or lack thereof) have on college students’ mental health and overall well-being. Mixed Findings Regarding Impact of Family Life. Some studies have more ambiguous findings regarding the impact family life has on college students. Hood et al. (2019) looked at how family factors relate to depressive symptoms in college students, and how self-compassion can alleviate such symptoms. The researchers examined 365 university students and found that individuals who reported high levels of self-compassion displayed similar rates of depression, regardless of whether they reported mild, moderate, or high levels of family unpredictability (Hood et al., 2019). The findings of this study suggest that family factors do not play a significant role in college students’ resilience or overall well-being, which is contrary to the previous studies mentioned. However, another study conducted by Berryhill et al. (2018) surveyed 500 college students and found that cohesive family functioning was related to higher levels of positive communication; positive communication was related to higher levels of self- compassion; and higher levels of self-compassion