Resilience among undergraduate nursing students: Findings of the first cross-sectional study in Palestine

Abstract

Abstract Background Resilience has emerged as a concept that could explain and predict good academic and well-being of students in stressful and traumatic situations. This study was conducted to assess resilience and identify predictors of high resilience scores among nursing students in Palestine. Methods This cross-sectional study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology statement. Undergraduate nursing students in all academic years were recruited and asked to complete a questionnaire the contained the trait and state resilience scales. Results In this study, 290 students completed the questionnaire (response rate = 92.4%). The mean combined resilience score was 134.1 (SD: 12.8). Higher combined resilience scores were predicted by being in first academic year (p-value < 0.003), living in Israeli seized areas (p-value < 0.044), absence of chronic diseases (p-value = 0.035), experiencing addiction issues (p-value = 0.031), living in a house with enough number of rooms per siblings (p-value = 0.015), and having a study routine on daily basis (p-value < 0.001). Conclusions Undergraduate nursing students in Palestine reported relatively high trait and state resilience. Higher resilience scores were predicted by favorable living and study conditions. More studies are still needed to investigate the relationship between resilience scores, perceived well-being, willingness to care, and future success of nursing students in Palestine.