Enhancing resilience in pre-clinical health science students in Thailand: the impact of sports activity and social support.

OBJECTIVE

Pre-clinical health science students face considerable academic pressure as they begin to encounter the academic demands and professional expectations characteristic of health science training. During this period, resilience may be particularly amenable to development. This study assessed emotional resilience and identified its associated factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted (April-May 2024) among 556 pre-clinical students in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Nursing at a university in Thailand. Participants completed online surveys: Resilience Inventory, Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey, University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, and Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Data were analyzed using multivariable linear regression to identify predictors of resilience levels. Results report standardized coefficients (β) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

RESULTS

Participants' mean age was 20.07 years (SD = 1.39); 62.1% were female. Resilience was low (24.9%), moderate (54.9%), and high (20.2%). Resilience was positively associated with sports participation (β = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.32, 2.04), family support (β = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.92), and friend support (β = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.99), but negatively associated with emotional exhaustion (β = -0.20, 95% CI: -0.28, -0.11).

CONCLUSIONS

Emotional resilience was independently associated with sports participation, social support, and lower emotional exhaustion. Physical activity and social support interventions may strengthen resilience.