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The Mediating Role of Resilience in the Association Between Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Among College Students at a Hispanic-Serving Institution in a U.S.–Mexico Border Region

Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Anxiety and depressive symptoms are prevalent concerns among college students, yet less is known about the role of resilience in their association among students in U.S.–Mexico border regions. This cross-sectional study examined whether resilience statistically mediated the association between anxiety and depressive symptoms while controlling for sociodemographic factors and year of data collection. Participants were a convenience sample of 857 college students attending a Hispanic-serving institution in a U.S.–Mexico border region from 2021 to 2025. Anxiety, resilience, and depressive symptoms were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Brief Resilience Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively. Mediation analysis was conducted using PROCESS Model 4 with 5000 bootstrap samples. Higher anxiety was associated with lower resilience (B = −0.056, p < 0.001), and greater resilience was associated with lower depressive symptoms (B = −1.379, p < 0.001). The indirect association of anxiety with depressive symptoms through resilience was significant (B = 0.077, 95% bootstrap CI [0.052, 0.103]). The direct association remained significant (B = 0.700, p < 0.001), indicating partial statistical mediation. These findings suggest that resilience is an important factor in the association between anxiety and depressive symptoms and may inform comprehensive student mental health initiatives.
DOI: 10.3390/bs16101802
Language: English
Field: Psychology
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,654
OpenAlex ID: W7216329027
FWCI:
Cites: 50
Cited by:
Related to: 10