Resilience and Mental Health in Higher Education: The Importance of Support Networks, Organization, and Learning Strategies in Face-to-Face and Distance Learning Contexts

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.5157126020111

• Palavras-chave: Resilience; Mental Health; Higher Education; Social Support Networks; Academic Adaptation; Distance Learning

• Keywords: Resilience; Mental Health; Higher Education; Social Support Networks; Academic Adaptation; Distance Learning

• Abstract:

  Resilience has been widely studied as a psychological construct associated with positive adaptation to situations of adversity and stress, assuming particular relevance in the context of mental health. This article aims to analyze the concept of resilience, its theoretical evolution, and its relationship with the promotion of mental health in educational contexts, with a special focus on higher education. Initially explored in other areas of knowledge, the concept was integrated into psychology to explain the adaptive processes of individuals exposed to potentially traumatic experiences, progressively moving away from the notion of invulnerability. Throughout the article, resilience is discussed as a dynamic and multidimensional process, influenced by individual, family, social, institutional, and cultural factors. Empirical evidence demonstrating the relationship between resilience, social support, and mental health is analyzed, highlighting the role of support networks, self-efficacy, time management, and learning strategies as protective factors in the academic journey. The article also addresses the specificities of distance learning, emphasizing the importance of self-regulation, individual responsibility, and institutional support in academic adaptation. The analysis developed in this article shows that promoting resilience in educational environments is a fundamental strategy for promoting the psychological well-being and academic success of higher education students.