EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AND RESILIENCE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

This study investigated the connection between resilience and post-traumatic stress disorder in Pakistani university students. A psychological response that occurs following exposure to traumatic experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently results in emotional suffering and cognitive impairments. It is widely believed that resilience, which is the capacity to bounce back and adjust constructively in the face of hardship, protects against the detrimental effects of trauma. An online survey was used to gather data from a convenience sample of 198 university students (73 men and 125 women) between the ages of 18 and 50 using a quantitative, correlational study methodology. Standardized tests of resilience and PTSD were completed by the participants. The suggested hypotheses were tested using statistical techniques such as one-way ANOVA, independent sample t-tests, and Pearson correlation. The results showed a statistically negligible correlation between resilience and post-traumatic stress disorder (r =.098, p >.05), indicating that individuals' levels of PTSD were not correlated with resilience. Similarly, there were no discernible variations in PTSD between male and female students (p =.071) or between age groups (p =.384). These findings suggest that, due to contextual, cultural, or situational differences, resilience may not have a direct impact on university students' levels of post-traumatic stress disorder. In order to improve students' coping mechanisms and foster psychological well-being, the study emphasizes the necessity of trauma-informed psychological interventions and resilience training programs in educational institutions.