An exploratory study of the relationship between resilience, academic burnout and psychological health in nursing students

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between resilience, academic burnout and psychological health in a sample of nursing students.

Method/Design: A descriptive and cross-sectional design was applied, with questionnaires as tools.

Participants: The convenience sample consisted of 113 nursing students in their final academic year, who voluntarily participated in the study.

Results: The results indicated a statistically significant relationship between resilience and both emotional exhaustion (r = −.55; p < .01) and psychological health (r = −.62; p < .01), as well as between all three dimensions of burnout and psychological health. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that high scores for resilience and low scores for emotional exhaustion predict better perceived psychological health [F_(2.96) = 17.75; p < .001].

Conclusions: Resilience was associated with lower levels of psychological discomfort and academic burnout. These findings highlight the importance of developing resilience and integrating it as an element in the nursing educational programme.