Influences of sociodemographic and psychological factors on the improvement of trait resilience after inpatient psychotherapeutic treatment

Frank, GL; Linnemann, P; Ramm, M; Schneider, G;, Kahnert, SM; Janßen, A; Conrad, R.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the stability of trait resilience and identify factors influencing its change during inpatient psychosomatic psychodynamic psychotherapy. Methods: A total of 225 patients undergoing inpatient treatment at the University Hospital Münster completed the Resilience Scale-13 (RS-13) at admission and discharge. Additional questionnaires assessed childhood trauma (CTQ), sense of coherence (SOC-13), and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-3L). A linear mixed model evaluated changes in resilience and influencing factors. Results: Resilience scores significantly increased from admission to discharge (Estimate = 12.10, SE = 3.96, t(224) = 3.06, p = 0.002). Lower health-related quality of life at admission was associated with greater resilience improvements during therapy (Estimate = -2.05, SE = 0.48, t(224) = -4.27, p < 0.001). Higher sense of coherence at admission was strongly linked to higher trait resilience overall (Estimate = 0.59, SE = 0.05, t(224) = 11.80, p < 0.001). Childhood trauma exhibited a significant interaction with therapy time point (Estimate = 0.19, SE = 0.05, t(224) = 4.01, p < 0.001), suggesting individuals with more childhood trauma experiences showed greater resilience improvements. Gender and age were not significant predictors. Hospitalization duration had a small negative association with resilience change (Estimate = -0.05, SE = 0.02, t(224) = -1.98, p = 0.048). Conclusions: Inpatient psychosomatic psychotherapy effectively enhances trait resilience. Higher sense of coherence, poorer initial health-related quality of life, and more severe childhood trauma experiences significantly predicted greater resilience improvements. These findings highlight the importance of promoting resilience as a central therapeutic goal.