Brief Resilient Coping Scale Research Articles

Network based evidence of suicidal ideation among teachers.

This study investigates the relationship between risk and protective factors and suicidal ideation among teachers, a group often overlooked in suicide prevention efforts. Using the diathesis-stress model as a partial framework, the research explores how depression and anxiety, as risk factors, and emotional intelligence, resilience, and positive thoughts, as protective factors, influence suicidal ideation. A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 1,270 Spanish teachers (median age: 46, 70.2% female). Key measures included the Positive and Negative Suicidal Ideation scale (PANSI), the Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale (BEIS-10), the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) for resilience, and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) for depression and anxiety. A network approach was used to examine the relationships between these variables. Results showed that depression had a stronger relationship with negative ideation than anxiety, while emotional intelligence and positive thoughts acted as protective factors. Positive ideation was negatively associated with depression and anxiety, and positively linked to emotional intelligence and resilience. Emotional intelligence emerged as the most critical protective factor. These findings provide valuable evidence to inform the development of emotional management and resilience-building programs aimed at enhancing teachers' mental health and performance, which could also indirectly benefit students.

Psychometric evaluation of the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) over the course of the pandemic in a large German general population sample.

The Brief Resilience Coping Scale (BRCS) is a brief instrument suitable for epidemiological studies. The aims of this paper were to analyze changes in BRCS depending on time, sex, age group, relationship status, as well as risk of poverty, to test the psychometric properties including test-retest reliability and measurement invariance, and to determine associations with psychosocial stress, depressiveness, anxiety, social support, as well as subjective mental and physical health. As the data from this study was collected during the pandemic, an additional sensitivity analysis was performed with pre-pandemic data. A longitudinal study of resilience and distress in a large-sized community sample was performed at one pre-pandemic (T0) and three pandemic time points (T1-3). Resilient coping was assessed by the 4-Item short form of the BRCS, distress by the PHQ-9 and GAD-2. BRCS decreased between the first and the second and increased at the third pandemic time point. The scale had a good internal consistency. Test-retest correlation coefficients ranged from 0.527 to 0.589. Higher resilient coping was found in younger participants, participants not at-risk-of-poverty and in males. Stability was higher in those with a partner, and at-risk-of-poverty. Significant negative associations with psychosocial stress, loneliness, depressiveness, anxiety, social support, as well as subjective and physical health and SES underscored the construct validity. Overall, findings underscore that resilient coping is a dynamic construct with considerable stability. The scale showed good psychometric properties including test-retest reliability over four months to two years. We found that it is not only important to describe the level of resilient coping, but also its stability.

Resilient Coping and the Psychometric Properties of the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) Among Healthy Young Men at Military Call-up

A self-report four-item Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) measures tendencies to cope with stress in a highly adaptive manner. We investigated the level of resilient coping and the psychometric properties of the BRCS among young men participating military call-up. The study sample consisted of a one-year military call-up sample (N = 2184) in the Northern Finland. Most of the participants were at the age of 17–18 years. They completed a study questionnaire including the BRCS and other psychosocial scales during the military call-up. The construct validity of the BRCS was assessed with exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent and discriminant validity were assessed by relating resilient coping with self-reports of dispositional optimism (LOT-R), sense of coherence (SOC-13), perceived stress (PSS-10), general anxiety (GAD-7), and depression (R-BDI). The mean BRCS total score of the participants indicated good resilient coping and was related to specific sociodemographic factors, such as education, relationship status and family structure. The internal consistency of the BRCS was good. EFA and CFA showed that one-factor solution fitted to the data best. BRCS correlated positively with dispositional optimism and sense of coherence, and negatively with perceived stress, general anxiety, and depression. BRCS appears to be psychometrically adequate tool in assessing healthy young men’s resilient coping before commencing their compulsory conscript service. The evaluation of resilient coping prior to military service is important to military forces.

Validating and Adapting the Brief Resilient Coping Scale for Greek Humanitarian Workers

IntroductionHumanitarian workers (HWs) face significant challenges while providing aid to those in need, often leading to psychological exhaustion and the risk of primary or secondary trauma.ObjectivesOur study aimed to validate and adapt the Greek version of the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) for HWs in Greece.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study between September and December 2022. Participants were recruited through a self-administered questionnaire distributed via social media to humanitarian groups. Additionally, the questionnaire was sent via email to these groups’ members, who then forwarded it to their respective networks. The questionnaire included the BRCS, a 4-item measure designed to capture tendencies to cope with stress in a highly adaptive manner. A score of 4-13 points indicates low resilient copers, 14-16 points medium resilient copers and 17-20 points high resilient copers. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess internal consistency. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was employed to evaluate model fit. Adequate or good fit criteria included a χ2 test p-value ≥ 0.05, Root Mean Square Error Approximation (RMSEA) ≤ 0.08, Standardized Root Mean Squared Residual (SRMR) ≤ 0.05, and a Comparative Fit Index (CFI) or Tucker–Lewis Index (TLI) ≤ 0.90. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA and SPSS software.ResultsA total of 151 humanitarian workers (76% females), with a mean age of 39.3±10.6 years participated in the study. The mean BRCS score was 65.6/100. Participants were categorized as follows: 34.6% as low resilient copers, 38.6% as medium resilient copers, and 26.8% as high resilient copers. Cronbach’s alpha for the BRCS was 0.84, indicating good internal consistency. CFA results supported the one-factor solution proposed by the original researchers, with acceptable global fit indices: Chi-square p-value = 0.303, SRMR = 0.028, RMSEA = 0.036, CFI = 0.991, TLI = 0.974.ConclusionsThe findings of our study show that the Greek version of BRCS is a valid and reliable tool that can be used to evaluate resilient coping among humanitarian workers in Greece.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Effects of the Brief Simha Kriya Breathing Practice for Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) experienced increased anxiety, depression, loneliness, and other mental health issues. HCWs need additional resources to cope with the mental health impact of their work. Yoga techniques could be helpful strategies to manage different stressors during times of uncertainty. Methods: This prospective, single-arm, trial examined the effects of a brief pranayama yoga practice on the wellbeing of HCWs during the height of COVID-19. HCWs were recruited through announcements and institutional websites at a large major cancer center in the southern United States. A short, prerecorded, 5-min breathwork video intervention called "Simha Kriya" was provided to participants, and they were encouraged to practice one to two times daily for 4 weeks. Participants completed self-report instruments at baseline and weeks 1 and 4, including: (1) Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); (2) Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS); and (3) a questionnaire assessing the experience of COVID-19 among HCWs that had five subscales. HCWs also conducted a measure of breath holding time. Paired sample t-tests and mixed-effects analysis of variance models examined changes over time. Results: One hundred participants consented to the study, with 88 female, 60 white, 39 worked remotely, and 27 were clinical staff. Sixty-nine participants provided data at week 1 and 56 at week 4. Participants' adherence to the breathing exercises between weeks 1 and 4 was similar, with a mean of six times per week. At week 4, there were significant decreases in the COVID-19 Distress score (p < 0.0001) and COVID-19 Disruption (p = 0.013), yet no changes in the PSS. There were also significant increases in COVID-19 Stress Management (p = 0.0001) and BRCS scores (p = 0.012), but no changes in Perceived Benefits of COVID-19 and no changes in breath holding time. Discussion: Brief yoga-based breathing practices helped reduce pandemic-specific stress, improved resilience, and stress management skills in HCWs. Trial Registration Number: NCT04482647.

Are In-the-Moment Resilience Processes Predicted by Questionnaire-Based Measures of Resilience?

Research on resilience is a growing field, and resilience has been conceptualized and operationalized in multiple ways. The aim of this study was to compare the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), a conventional measure of resilience, with within-person process indicators derived from experience sampling method (ESM). A sample of 177 teachers from southern Finland participated in the study, commencing with a startup session followed by an 8-day ESM period. Through twice-daily prompts, participants reported their immediate positive and negative affect as well as recent stressors encountered, such as workload and challenging social interactions. As expected, within-person variation in affect was predicted by stressors. However, contrary to expectations, individual differences in affective reactivity to stressors were not predicted by BRCS (βpositive affect [95% CI] = -.20, [-.51, .11]; βnegative affect = .33, [-.07, .69]). Item response theory analyses of the BRCS revealed problems with precision. The results call into question the validity of measuring resilience using single administrations of retrospective self-report questionnaires such as the BRCS.

Heading for the Frontline: Mood, Stress, Resilience, and Coping of Nursing Graduates during a Global Pandemic

COVID-19 affected health and wellbeing globally. Graduating nursing students face a variety of stressors, and entering the nursing profession during the pandemic adds additional stress. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, mood, perceived stress, resilience, and coping were assessed in an Australian sample of 112 graduating nursing students, who completed the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS). Mean BRUMS scores for tension, fatigue, and confusion were significantly above population norms and vigour scores were significantly below. Mean PSS-4 scores were reflective of population norms but showed higher levels of stress among younger and on-campus students compared to those who were older or studied externally. BRCS data showed that 82.1% of graduating nursing students were medium- or high-resilient copers. Mood profiles suggested that 19.6% of participants reported moods associated with mental health issues, 23.2% reported moods associated with risk of burnout, and only 17.9% reported mood profiles associated with positive mental health. High mean tension scores reported by graduating nursing students indicated apprehension about joining the profession, although stress, resilience, and coping scores suggested they were adequately managing the additional stressors generated by the global pandemic.

VOLUNTEERS' MENTAL HEALTH IN WAR

VOLUNTEERS' MENTAL HEALTH IN WAR

Measuring Caribbean stress and resilient coping: Psychometric properties of the PSS-10 and BRCS in a multi-country study during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Caribbean health research has overwhelmingly employed measures developed elsewhere and rarely includes evaluation of psychometric properties. Established measures are important for research and practice. Particularly, measures of stress and coping are needed. Stressors experienced by Caribbean people are multifactorial, as emerging climate threats interact with existing complex and vulnerable socioeconomic environments. In the early COVID-19 pandemic, our team developed an online survey to assess the well-being of health professions students across university campuses in four Caribbean countries. This survey included the Perceived Stress Scale, 10-item version (PSS-10) and the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS). The participants were 1,519 health professions students (1,144 females, 372 males). We evaluated the psychometric qualities of the measures, including internal consistency, concurrent validity by correlating both measures, and configural invariance using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Both scales had good internal consistency, with omega values of 0.91 for the PSS-10 and 0.81 for the BRCS. CFA suggested a two-factor structure of the PSS-10 and unidimensional structure of the BRCS. These findings support further use of these measures in Caribbean populations. However, the sampling strategy limits generalizability. Further research evaluating these and other measures in the Caribbean is desirable.

Multi-modal mindfulness training and well-being for healthcare students

IntroductionMindfulness is a mental state attained through focusing awareness on the present with calm acceptance of thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. This study evaluated impact of mindfulness activities on well-being of pharmacy and other healthcare students. MethodsResearch participants completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires evaluating multi-modal mindfulness interventions. Due to the pandemic, sessions led by a certified mindfulness instructor were offered live online and recorded, supplemented by a well-being mobile app and reflective discussion component. Four composite scales were administered to participants. The Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) inventories measured resilient coping skills, awareness, and psychological symptoms, including stress, depression, and anxiety. Exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha were used to determine scale reliability and validity. ResultsThirty-six participants completed both pre- and post-intervention questionnaires (n = 36). Significant improvement was found in well-being for BRCS, FFMQ-15, and WEMWBS measures (P < .05). Change in DASS-21 was not significant (P = .19). Mobile app use enhanced foundational mindfulness skills. Awareness, connection, and coping themes were identified from written comments. ConclusionsEvaluation of this multi-modal interprofessional intervention provides further evidence of benefits of mindfulness for pharmacy and other healthcare students. The mobile app and mindful movement with reflection improved all attributes measured by the composite scales. Further research may explore alternative multi-modal mindfulness interventions and incorporation into healthcare education curricula. Interprofessional collaboration is encouraged among faculty to enhance mindfulness while connecting healthcare professionals.

Adverse childhood experiences and psychotropic medication prescription among cancer patients

Background This study aimed at identifying and characterizing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in a sample of cancer patients and subsequently evaluating the relationship between ACEs and prescription of psychotropic medication among them. Individuals with ACEs have a higher risk of mental health conditions and are more likely to be prescribed psychotropic medications. Methods A sample of 178 adult patients receiving Supportive Oncology & Survivorship (SOS) services at Huntsman Cancer Hospital in Utah was obtained. ACEs and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) questionnaires were administered confidentially. A multivariable mixed effect model, adjusting for sex, age, and insurance type while controlling for zip-codes clustering were employed. Results Compared to the prevalence of ACEs in the general population, from the CDC-Kaiser Permanente ACEs Study, we found no significant difference in the prevalence of people who had experienced an adverse childhood event (ACEs score > = 1) between our study of cancer patients and the CDC-Kaiser study (67.4% vs. 63.6%, p = 0.29372), but found a significant difference in the prevalence of people who had experienced severe adverse childhood experiences (ACES score > =4) (25.3% vs. 12.1%, p < 0.00001). Furthermore, this study reveals a significant association between an increase of one unit in the total ACEs score and the odds of psychotropic medication prescription in the past 12 months (OR: 1.233; 95% CI: 1.025, 1.483). Those with a total ACEs score of three or more were found to have 280% higher odds of being prescribed psychotropic medication compared to those with ACEs ≤ 2 (OR: 3.822; 95% CI: 1.404,10.407). Conclusion A significant proportion of cancer patients have a history of ACEs, and thus trauma-informed care approach is essential during their treatment.

Resilience as a Moderator of Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies in Sophomore College Students Post-COVID-19 Pandemic

The post-COVID-19 pandemic has had various impacts on human life, including on educational institutions and sophomore students. One of the negative consequences has been an increase in perceived stress, which has necessitated the development of coping strategies. Resilience is believed to play a significant role in influencing the quality of these coping strategies. This research aims to examine the moderating influence of resilience on coping strategies for perceived stress among sophomore students in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. Participants included students in their third to sixth semesters, selected through snowball sampling. Data were collected via an online questionnaire encompassing three scales: Brief COPE, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS). Data analysis involved descriptive analysis and moderated regression analysis. The study concludes that resilience significantly moderates the relationship between coping strategies and perceived stress (t = -10.722, p &lt; 0.05). The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are further discussed.

ALS Health care provider wellness

Background Interest in health care provider (HCP) wellness and burnout is increasing; however, minimal literature explores HCP wellness in the context of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) care. Objectives We sought to determine rates of burnout and resiliency, as well as challenges and rewards in the provision of ALS care. Methods A survey link was sent to physicians at all Canadian ALS centers for distribution to ALS HCPs in their network. The survey included demographics questions, and validated measures for resiliency and burnout; the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) and the Single Item Burnout Score (SIBS). Participants were asked to describe challenges and rewards of ALS care, impact of COVID-19 pandemic, and how their workplace could better support them. Results There were 85 respondents across multiple disciplines. The rate of burnout was 47%. Burnout for female respondents was significantly higher (p = 0.007), but not for age, role, or years in ALS clinic. Most participants were medium resilient copers n = 48 (56.5%), but resiliency was not related to burnout. Challenges included feeling helpless while patients relentlessly progressed to death, and emotionally charged interactions. Participants found fulfillment in providing care, and through relationships with patients and colleagues. There was a strongly expressed desire for increased resources, team building/debriefing, and formal training in emotional exhaustion and burnout. Conclusions The high rate of burnout and challenges of ALS care highlight the need for additional resources, team-building, and formal education around wellness.

Effect of Resilience, Well-Being, Happiness, and Social Support on the Levels of Perceived Negative Emotions of Colombian People During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The research established the relationships between resilient coping, subjective well-being, subjective happiness, and social support on anxiety levels, depression, and perceived stress among Colombians during the COVID-19 pandemic in the department of Córdoba, Colombia. Participants were 997 elderly people of both genders with literacy skills and without the presence of cognitive impairment. The Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), the Happiness Scale (SHS), the Subjective Wellness Scale (SWLS), the Duke-UNC 12 social support scale, the PHQ-4 scale (anxiety-depression), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) were used as measuring instruments. We worked with a nonexperimental cross-sectional design and a correlative scope.

A Study to Assess the Prevalence of Non-suicidal Self Injury and Reasons for that Behaviour among Adults and their Coping

Introduction: Non-Suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is both highly comorbid with suicidality among&#x0D; adolescents and a significant predictor of suicide attempts (SAs) in adolescents.A broad variety of different functions can underlie acts of Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).&#x0D; Aims: To study prevalence and characteristics of Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and functional purpose of that behaviour among Adults and their level of coping.&#x0D; Study Design: Cross-sectional Analytical study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The study is conducted in central medical university, Gujarat, India over a period of 30 days.&#x0D; Methodology: Study was conducted among students of Central Medical University.195 participants were enrolled by consecutive random sampling. They were given a Google form to fill out Demographic details. The form also has an Inventory for NSSI (ISAS) to assess their NSSI behaviour and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) to assess coping.&#x0D; Results: Out of 195 participants, prevalence of NSSI behaviour is 49(25.12%). Among these 20(40.82%) are male &amp; 29(59.18%) are female. Among sociodemographic data type of family is statistically significant(P value- 0.039). Mean age at which participants start self-harming is16.6 ± 2.89 years. During NSSI behaviour 51.02% of participants always feel pain and 16.32% of participants do not feel pain. Prevalence of NSSI behaviour is higher in 3rd or higher birth order (33.33%) compare to 1st(28.31%) and 2nd (19.67%).The most common method of self-harm was cutting (65.3%), followed by banging (61.22%) or hitting self. The most common functional reason for self-harm was affect regulation followed by self-punishment. of participants who are having NSSI behaviour. In this study we found that there is a statistically significant difference between various resilience coping and NSSI behavior.(P- 0.0008).&#x0D; Conclusion: The most common method of self-harm is cutting and functional purpose for this behavior is affect regulation. Individual with low resilient coping have higher chances of NSSI behavior and similarly high resilient coping is protective for NSSI behavior.

COVID-19: Factors Associated with the Psychological Distress, Fear and Resilient Coping Strategies among Community Members in Saudi Arabia.

(1) Background: COVID-19 caused the worst international public health crisis, accompanied by major global economic downturns and mass-scale job losses, which impacted the psychosocial wellbeing of the worldwide population, including Saudi Arabia. Evidence of the high-risk groups impacted by the pandemic has been non-existent in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study examined factors associated with psychosocial distress, fear of COVID-19 and coping strategies among the general population in Saudi Arabia. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in healthcare and community settings in the Saudi Arabia using an anonymous online questionnaire. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10), Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) were used to assess psychological distress, fear and coping strategies, respectively. Multivariate logistic regressions were used, and an Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) was reported. (3) Results: Among 803 participants, 70% (n = 556) were females, and the median age was 27 years; 35% (n = 278) were frontline or essential service workers; and 24% (n = 195) reported comorbid conditions including mental health illness. Of the respondents, 175 (21.8%) and 207 (25.8%) reported high and very high psychological distress, respectively. Factors associated with moderate to high levels of psychological distress were: youth, females, non-Saudi nationals, those experiencing a change in employment or a negative financial impact, having comorbidities, and current smoking. A high level of fear was reported by 89 participants (11.1%), and this was associated with being ex-smokers (3.72, 1.14-12.14, 0.029) and changes in employment (3.42, 1.91-6.11, 0.000). A high resilience was reported by 115 participants (14.3%), and 333 participants (41.5%) had medium resilience. Financial impact and contact with known/suspected cases (1.63, 1.12-2.38, 0.011) were associated with low, medium, to high resilient coping. (4) Conclusions: People in Saudi Arabia were at a higher risk of psychosocial distress along with medium-high resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, warranting urgent attention from healthcare providers and policymakers to provide specific mental health support strategies for their current wellbeing and to avoid a post-pandemic mental health crisis.

Resilient Coping is More Important Than Previous Virtual Learning Experience: Predicting Pharmacy Student Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated a swift transition to online learning in medical and health sciences. This study investigated the associations of previous experience with online learning, current confidence with online learning, and resilient coping skills with perceived stress reported by pharmacy students during the emergency transition to online learning. Undergraduate pharmacy students (N=113, response rate = 41%) completed an online, self-report, cross-sectional survey during April-June 2020. Measures included Likert items measuring prior experience and current comfort levels with online learning, the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), and the Perceived Stress Scale 10-Item Version (PSS-10). Experience, comfort with online learning, reported scores, and internal consistency for the BRCS and PSS-10 were summarized. A linear regression model examined the associations of prior experience with online education, gender, and resilient coping with perceived stress. Of the 113 respondents (78% female, mean age 22.3 years), > 50% had only occasional prior experience with online learning, coursework, and examinations, but 63% expressed confidence with online learning. Mean PSS-10 and BRCS scores were 23.8 and 13.3, respectively, and both scales demonstrated good internal consistency (α > 0.80). BRCS score was the single predictor of the PSS-10 score (r2 = 0.18, p < 0.001). Female gender was not a significant predictor (p = 0.11). A multiple regression model explained moderate variation in perceived stress (adjusted R2 = 0.19). PSS-10 and BRCS scores indicated moderate levels of stress and coping skills among students during online teaching. Most students had some prior exposure to online learning, coursework, and examinations. Higher resiliency scores, but not prior online learning experience, predicted lower perceived stress.

Factors associated with psychological distress, fear, and coping strategies during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic among community members in Nepal

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had huge impact on social, psychological, and economic well-being of general community people in Nepal. Objectives: To assess the extent of psychological distress, fear, and level of coping strategies among community members in Nepal. Methods: A nationwide analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among Nepali residents aged &gt;=18 years using an online structured questionnaire during 2020 December to 2021 January. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S) and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) were used in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to adjust for potential confounders. Ethical clearance was obtained from institutional review committee of Kathmandu Medical College. Results: Among 311 respondents, 167 (53.7%) were female. Median age (IQR) 31.3 (13) years with age range 18-69 years. Mean age was 31.4 ± 10.3 years. Being above 30 years old (AOR 3.8, 95% CI 2.13-6.84) were associated with higher levels of psychological distress. Being a female (AOR 0.55, CI 95% 0.30-0.99), moderately improved working situation due to change of employment (AOR 0.39, CI 95% 0.20-0.76), having little perceived distress due to change of employment status (AOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27-0.97), having positive impact of COVID-19 on financial situation (AOR 0.28, 95% CI 0.13-0.61) were associated with lower levels of fear based on the FCV-19S scale. Conclusions: This study identified individuals who were at higher risk of psychological distress, level of fear, and low coping strategies during COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal. These findings would assist in exploring the strategies to support mental health of vulnerable population during pandemic and post-pandemic periods.

Abstract MP42: Associations Between Psychological Resilience and Lifestyle Behaviors Among Adults in Puerto Rico Affected by Repeated Adverse Events

Residents of Puerto Rico have repeatedly experienced adverse events over the past five years including Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, earthquakes in 2019-2020, Hurricane Fiona in 2022, sociopolitical unrest, a deep economic crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic (including strict lockdown protocols). Higher psychological resilience, or the ability to “bounce back” after adversity, has been associated with better cardiovascular health in other contexts. One potential mechanism for this relationship is that higher resilience may contribute to engaging in healthier behaviors, such as higher diet quality, more physical activity, and healthier sleep duration and quality, as well as less smoking and drinking. However, such relationships have not yet been explored in this population. We cross-sectionally surveyed 1,240 adults in Puerto Rico in 2019-2022, with recruitment both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the Puerto Rico Observational Study of Psychosocial, Environmental, and Chronic Disease Trends (PROSPECT). Participants responded to the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BCS). Diet was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire and diet quality was defined by the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI). Physical activity was measured via the Harvard Alumni Activity Survey. We also collected data on average hours of sleep, quality of sleep, alcohol intake, and tobacco use. Logistic regression models estimated the odds ratios (OR, 95% CI) for following each healthy behavior by established categories of resilience (high and medium vs. low), adjusted for sociodemographic factors and co-morbidities. Of the sample, 39% (452 out of 1175) and 73% (851 out of 1170) were classified with high resilience and coping using the BRS and BCS, respectively. Adults with high resilience (vs. low) on the BRS had twice the odds [OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.22, 3.29] of reporting healthy sleep hours (7-8 hours/night compared to either 6 or fewer/night or 9 or more/night). High resilience was also associated with higher odds of being in the upper AHEI tertile (better diet quality) [OR: 1.61 (0.97, 2.68)], and having moderate or heavy physical activity [OR: 1.54 (1.04, 2.29) compared to sedentary or light activity]. These associations persisted when further adjusting for mental health disorders, perceived stress, and social support. Moreover, the relationships were stronger among participants interviewed during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that psychological resilience may be particularly relevant during an ongoing stressor. No significant associations were noted between resilience and tobacco or alcohol use. Given Puerto Rico’s susceptibility to adverse events, seeking to improve population resilience in this and similarly vulnerable populations may lead to better health over the life course.

PREVALENCE OF STRESS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH RESILIENCE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTER, AURANGABAD, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

Background: Medical science is perceived as a stressful educational career, and medical students experience monstrous stress during their undergraduate studies and internships because of its depth and competitiveness. Prolonged stress can cause health problems, hamper academic achievements, and affect patient care. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of stress and its association with resilience, as well as the coping strategies adopted by medical students. Material &amp; Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among medical undergraduate students studying at a tertiary care hospital situated in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, between June and July 2022. Using Cochrans formula and the previous studys prevalence of 51.1%, 425 medical students from first year to internship were included. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of Sociodemographic characteristics, items from the Kessler 10 inventory, and the BRIEF resilient coping scale were used. Results: The overall response rate was 79.11%, with 380 out of 425 students returning the questionnaire. The study found that 57.6% of medical students were suffering from high levels of stress, and the highest prevalence was among the 1st year students, followed by the internship students, and then the final year students. Stress was classified as mild (13.9%), moderate (8.9%), severe (34.7%), or likely to be well (42.4%) on the Kessler 10-item inventory scale. Academic factors are a greater perceived cause of stress. The religion, present address, medium of education and BRCS coping score had significant impact on presence of stress.(p=0.027, p=0.03, p=0.001,p=0.001 ) Conclusion: The study recommended that consideration be given to program decision-makers and health decision-makers to focus on significant actions to reduce the academic stress perceived by medical students. Preventive mental health services could be made an integral part of routine clinical services for medical students, especially in the initial academic years, to prevent such occurrences.