Psychological resilience in university students: The mediating role of health and well-being in socioeconomic status and food insecurity levels

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between psychological resilience (PR) and both socioeconomic status (SES) and food insecurity (FI), as well as the mediating role of health perception and well-being in these associations. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 820 university students using stratified sampling between November and December 2023. GLM mediation analyses indicated that low SES was linked to lower PR through health, well-being, and FI. While all FI levels were directly associated with lower PR, moderate and severe FI levels also showed indirectly associated whith health and well-being. Comparisons revealed that women and students perceiving their income as insufficient had lower PR scores, whereas those who smoked or consumed alcohol had higher PR scores. These findings suggest that low SES indirectly and all FI levels directly contribute to lower PR, with health and well-being playing a mediating role in these associations.