Effectiveness of Resilience-Thinking Training on College Students: Evidence from a Randomized Trial

Effectiveness of Resilience-Thinking Training on College Students: Evidence from a Randomized Trial

• Industry Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Administration Alan Secor

Abstract:

We conducted a randomized evaluation of an in-depth group workshop where undergraduate students were introduced to the resilient-thinking approach, which offers conceptual tools to cope with unexpected negative shocks. Treated youths were offered a 90-minute workshop where they identified challenges in their community before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and brainstormed strategies to address them. We find the intervention increased resilience for 60% of the treated students, those who had lower pre-intervention resilience. This result holds regardless of students’ pre-intervention mental health and different measures of vulnerability. Yet, it is stronger among juniors and seniors, transfer students, first-generation students, Black and Hispanic students, and women. We also find that students with signs of anxiety, depression, or PTS benefited most from the intervention.

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