Stress and Resilience Development in German Dental Students

INTRODUCTION: The study evaluated the effectiveness of a resilience training for dental students as a preventive measure for mental health and stress management, with consideration for its long-term integration into dental education. METHODS: A 2-day online resilience training was tailored to address specific stressors experienced by dental students in Munich, Germany. Data were collected via online questionnaires from both participants (pre and posttraining) and nonparticipant controls over a 6-month period. Outcomes included resilience development, health behaviour, perceived stress and life satisfaction, utilising an online questionnaire. Statistical analysis (t-tests and mixed ANOVA) was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics. RESULTS: = 0.084 (medium effect), reduced subjective stress and higher overall satisfaction. Qualitative feedback indicated enhanced social support, though the effect on physical health behaviour remained inconclusive. Differences in resilience and satisfaction were observed between preclinical and clinical students, and between sexes. DISCUSSION: This resilience training demonstrated preventive benefits for dental students' mental health. Limitations include selection bias, self-reported measures, lack of long-term data and confounding societal influences. Integrating such training into dental curricula may be a valuable strategy with potential for broader application in other institutions as well.