(PS8-63) Emotional Resilience as a Moderator of Belonging and Depression Severity in College Students of Color: Findings from the National Healthy Minds Study

Sense of belonging is the experience of feeling known, connected to, and supported in one's identity. Feeling supported by one’s social identity, in particular, has been consistently demonstrated as a protective factor against psychological distress. Specifically, high levels of perceived belonging to one’s social group have been shown to buffer against depression severity. Conversely, lack of social connectedness or belonging is associated with adverse mental health outcomes, and low social group membership has been shown to predict increased depression. Emotional resilience, one’s ability to successfully respond to stressful or unexpected situations and crises, has also been identified as a protective factor against depression severity. However, limited work has examined the relationships between these constructs simultaneously, especially in the context of students of color. We posited that higher emotional resilience may increase individuals’ tenacity when experiencing lower group belonging, thereby attenuating depression severity.  

Given the unique challenges faced by students of color in academic institutions, as well as mental health inequities experienced by diverse groups, there is a clear need to explore the factors that influence depression in minority populations. The current study aimed to assess whether emotional resilience moderated the relationship between sense of belonging and depression severity in a national sample of students of color. We examined data from the 2023 Healthy Minds Study (HMS), a national web-based survey assessing mental health and related issues in college students in the US (n = 1969). Primary outcomes were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and a single-item question to assess sense of belonging. We hypothesized that emotional resilience would significantly moderate the association between sense of belonging and depression severity, such that high levels of emotional resilience would buffer the effects of low belongingness on depression severity. 

Consistent with past research, we found that the interaction between emotional resilience and sense of belonging was significant such that high emotional resilience buffered against the potential negative effects of low group belonging on depression severity, and enhanced the positive effects of high group belonging on lowering depression severity (β = 0.499, SE = 0.154, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that even in the absence of feelings of group belonging, high emotional resilience may play a protective role against depression severity by helping students of color cope with adversity and challenges. These findings also suggest that interventions focused on enhancing emotional resilience in individuals with low perceived belonging in treatment could help mitigate symptoms of depression. Academic institutions should focus on developing programs that build cultural capital and promote a strong sense of belonging in students, particularly those from minority backgrounds.