Keys to Resilience at ANU: An Exploration Into Student Resilience Approaches and Needs

Resilience, often referred to as the ability to ‘bounce back’ from stressful circumstances, is an integral quality for academic success and personal health. Maintaining strong resilience in the face of academic demands enables tertiary students to reach their potential and obtain a sense of fulfilme...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Melissa Pech
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (ANZSSA) 2017-03-01
Series:JANZSSA
Online Access:https://janzssa.scholasticahq.com/article/1340-keys-to-resilience-at-anu-an-exploration-into-student-resilience-approaches-and-needs
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Summary:Resilience, often referred to as the ability to ‘bounce back’ from stressful circumstances, is an integral quality for academic success and personal health. Maintaining strong resilience in the face of academic demands enables tertiary students to reach their potential and obtain a sense of fulfilment in their university experience. This project explored the range of ways students engage their own skills to foster resilience and how these might be supported by their institution of study. Students (N= 290) completed an anonymous survey regarding their resilience approaches and suggestions for institutional support. Results from the current study demonstrated that a wide and varied range of approaches to resilience were reported to be helpful and utilised. The most commonly reported categories included accessing social support (21%); engaging in physical exercise (21%); active personal self-care (e.g. prioritising sleep, healthy diet, regular breaks and relaxation; 17%); psychological or cognitive approaches (13%); and regular engagement in personal interests (10%). Preferences were indicated for improvements to existing student services and support (19.5%); additional facilitation of social events, functions or groups (18%); increased promotion of student resilience and mental health support (13%); additional or ongoing availability of free or low-cost fitness activities on campus (12%); incorporation of resilience into academic support (11%); and facilities or spaces more favourable to both social interaction and for individual self-reflection (9%). This project highlights the importance of resilience in tertiary education, along with promoting a range of ways educational institutions could bolster and support student resilience.
ISSN:1320-2480
2207-8460