Socioemotional factors associated with teacher resilience in Colombian communities affected by armed conflict a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: Mental health problems are increasingly prevalent among school-aged children and adolescents, underscoring the need for teacher-inclusive mental health interventions. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between sociodemographic and socioemotional factors and resilience among teachers, prior to their participation in a school-based intervention aimed at strengthening socioemotional competencies. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 693 teachers from 56 public schools in Amazonas, Boyacá, and Vaupés, Colombia. Teachers completed standardized instruments including the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Compassion Scale (ECOM), and Prosocial Personality Battery (PSB), along with mental health screeners for anxiety (HARS), depression (Whooley), and PTSD (PCL-C). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariate linear regressions were used to assess associations between socioemotional factors and resilience scores. RESULTS: The mean age was 47.13 years (SD = 9.91); most were female (65.95%). Median resilience score was 76 (IQR = 69-86). Teachers from Vaupés showed higher resilience, while those from Boyacá had lower scores. Higher compassion (ECOM: β = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.10-0.36) and prosociality scores (PSB: β = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.31-0.54) were independently associated with increased resilience. Conversely, higher anxiety levels (HARS: β = -0.22; 95% CI: -0.39 to - 0.06) and a positive depression screen (Whooley: β = -2.46; 95% CI: -5.18 to 0.25) were associated with lower resilience scores. Age and sex were not independently associated with resilience in the adjusted model. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health programs in school settings should prioritize teacher well-being as a central component for promoting student mental health outcomes. Findings underscore the relevance of addressing socioemotional skills and resilience in educators, particularly in contexts affected by armed conflict.