Between Resilience and Risk: A Latent Profile Analysis from the Me.Mo Survey of University Students.

Abstract

University students navigate a critical developmental period that can challenge psychological wellbeing. Most research addresses symptoms or single risk factors, but less is known about how internal strengths and contextual supports jointly shape it. This study aimed to identify latent profiles of psychosocial functioning based on indicators of wellbeing, psychological distress, internal and external resources. Italian university students (N = 1077; M_age = 21.78; range = 19-29; 77.6% female) completed self-report measures assessing wellbeing, internalizing symptoms, and personal, social, and academic resources. Four distinct profiles emerged by latent profile analysis: Flourishing-Low Symptoms (21.4%), the most resilient group; Moderate Symptoms-Relational Supported (21.0%), with moderate symptoms but intact supports; Intermediate Symptoms-Relational Strain (36.2%), with moderate symptoms and relational difficulties; Distressed-Low Wellbeing (21.4%), showing highest distress and lowest resources. Profiles also differed significantly in sociodemographic and health-related characteristics and across all psychological, interpersonal, and contextual variables. The distinction between the two intermediate profiles indicates that similar levels of distress may coexist with different configurations of relational support, suggesting the need for differentiated preventive interventions. Findings emphasize the central role of external supports and relational contexts in sustaining students' adjustment and show that differences in internal resources meaningfully separate more resilient from more vulnerable profiles.