Predictors of Psychological Resilience: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Adults in Nairobi and Kiambu Counties in Kenya

Psychological resilience is the ability to “bounce back” from “setbacks” experienced by individuals due to their encounter with life events, stressors or adversity. An on-line study sought to determine the predictors of psychological resilience among 318 adults sampled from Nairobi and Kiambu counties in Kenya using convenience sampling and snowballing. The sample was made up 56.2% females, 42.8% and 1% who preferred not to state their gender, 57.7% were living in Nairobi while 42.3% were residents in Kiambu county. An investigator developed socio demographic questionnaire, the Resilience Scale and the Baruth Protective Factors Inventory (BPFI) were used to formulate a goggle form. The study findings showed that there was a significant impact of few stressors, adaptive personality and supportive environment on psychological resilience. Regression analysis result indicated that a 2% variance on psychological resilience was accounted for by few stressors, 4.2% by adaptive personality and 4.7% by a supportive environment. The regression coefficient (B = 1.02, 95% CI) indicated that when few stressors increase by one-unit, psychological resilience increased by 1.02 units, (B = 1.34, 95% CI), the regression coefficient for adaptive personality indicated that an increase in a unit corresponded to a 1.34 unit increase in psychological resilience while (B = 1.81, 95% CI) the regression coefficient for supportive environment, indicated that an increase in a unit, corresponded to a 1.81 unit increase in psychological resilience. The findings of this study are useful for mental health service providers who work with individuals with mental illnesses and are using interventions for enhancing psychological resilience. Additionally, on a policy level the government can utilize these finding to lower the number of stressors that the general public is exposed to as this predicts psychological resilience. Churches, families, work environments as well as social groups are a support environment for individuals and the level of support obtained impacts psychological resilience. Enhancing engagements in the social circles is a resource.