Psychosocial Pathways between National Resilience and Mental Well-Being: Evidence from Filipino Emerging Adults at Risk for Depression

Background: National-level social contexts play a significant role in shaping individual mental health outcomes across the lifespan. According to Social Psychiatry, macro-social factors such as national resilience impact mental well-being through individual psychosocial pathways. Emerging adulthood (18 to 29 years old), marked by identity exploration, experimentation, and instability, is a crucial developmental phase that heightens vulnerability to psychological distress, including depression. This study is based in the Philippines, a developing nation frequently confronted with natural disasters and sociopolitical challenges that may undermine national resilience and affect the mental health of its young population.

Aim: This study explored the relationship between national resilience and mental well-being among Filipino emerging adults at risk for depression (EAARFDs), focusing on the mediating effects of peace of mind and life satisfaction in this relationship.

Method: A cross-sectional design was used, employing an online survey to gather data. The analysis included 920 EAARFDs, with standardized scales measuring key variables such as National Resilience, Peace of Mind, Life Satisfaction, and Mental Well-being. Parallel mediation analysis was conducted using the GLM Mediation Model module in JAMOVI, incorporating bias-corrected bootstrapping (N=5000).

Results: National resilience was found to positively predict mental well-being, with peace of mind and life satisfaction serving as significant mediators. Peace of mind had a more substantial mediating effect than life satisfaction. The overall model accounted for 43.8% of the variance in mental well-being (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The study highlights the positive impact of national resilience on the mental well-being of EAARFDs and identifies peace of mind and life satisfaction as key psychosocial pathways. These findings emphasize the importance of mental health initiatives that focus on enhancing both societal resilience and individual psychological resources during emerging adulthood.