Level of Resilience and Its Correlates Among MBBS Undergraduate Students at a Tertiary Institute in North India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose Medical students experience significant academic and psychosocial stressors. Resilience may help mitigate negative psychological outcomes. This study assessed the level of resilience among MBBS undergraduate students and examined its associations with selected socio-demographic and academic variables. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among MBBS students at AIIMS Rishikesh using the validated 16-item Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-16). Responses were scored on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (“Not at all”) to 5 (“A lot”). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and appropriate inferential tests. Results Of 500 invited students, 324 valid responses were analyzed. The mean age was 20.31 ± 1.9 years and 59% were male. Based on CYRM-16 scores, 16% demonstrated low resilience, 68.8% moderate resilience, and 15.1% high resilience. Higher resilience was significantly associated with academic year, number of siblings, and participation in extracurricular activities (p < 0.05). Conclusions Most MBBS students reported moderate resilience. Students further along in training, those with more siblings, and those participating in extracurricular activities demonstrated higher resilience. Institutions should consider structured resilience-building interventions.