Neurological mechanisms of resilience : evidence from a Hong Kong university student sample /

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Student Theses

2025

Tai, Pui Lun Alan

Hong Kong : The Education University of Hong Kong

Thesis

Psychological resilience-the capacity to adapt positively in the face of adversity-has garnered increasing attention in neuroscience and mental health research. This thesis investigates the neurobiological underpinnings of resilience among university students in Hong Kong, employing rs-fMRI to explore intrinsic brain connectivity patterns associated with resilience. Three studies were conducted. Study 1 systematically reviewed 38 peer-reviewed rs-fMRI studies that examined resilience in non-psychiatric populations. The review focused on studies using diverse operational definitions of resilience, including trait-based, outcome-based, and state-based measures. Findings revealed consistent involvement of the default mode network (DMN), salience network (SN), and prefrontal-limbic circuits, suggesting that resilience is supported by distributed neural systems involved in emotion regulation, self-referential processing, and cognitive control. Study 2 employed a cross-sectional design with 58 healthy university students. Participants completed validated psychometric instruments assessing overall resilience (CDRISC), state resilience (SRC), trait resilience (TRC), and outcome-based resilience (PSS/GHQ ratio). Resting-state fMRI data were analyzed using seed-based and whole-brain regression approaches. Results showed that higher trait resilience was associated with reduced functional connectivity between the right amygdala and prefrontal regions, including the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and superior frontal gyrus (SFG), suggesting more efficient emotion regulation. Outcome-based resilience was linked to decreased connectivity between the inferior occipital gyrus (IOG) and lenticular nucleus (LN), indicating adaptive modulation of visual-motor integration under stress. Study 3 extended these findings by testing a moderation model within the same sample. It examined whether cognitive reappraisal-an emotion regulation strategy-moderated the relationship between sensitivity to punishment (SP) and resting-state connectivity in the IFG. The study found that cognitive reappraisal significantly moderated the association between SP and IFG connectivity, such that individuals with higher reappraisal scores showed attenuated connectivity patterns linked to punishment sensitivity. These results highlight the buffering role of emotion regulation in mitigating stress vulnerability at the neural level. Collectively, the findings contribute to the growing body of literature on the neural basis of resilience, offering culturally relevant insights and potential implications for mental health interventions. By integrating psychometric validation with neuroimaging data, this thesis advances our understanding of resilience as a multidimensional construct rooted in both psychological and neurobiological domains

LG51.H43 Dr 2025eb Taipla

https://educoll.lib.eduhk.hk/records/nURTtu0Z