Abstract
BACKGROUND: Resilience is a crucial protective factor for dietitians, helping them manage the negative impacts of routine stressors and crises in their daily work while maintaining their well-being. Based on Ungar ecological model of resilience, this study aims to understand the multi-level resilience resources that help dietitians maintain their well-being in the context of protracted conflict. METHODS: The study employed a cross-sectional design. Data were collected between December 2023 and February 2024 in Israel. Participants were recruited via a snowball sampling to recruit dietitians who graduated from one academic institution. An electronic flyer detailing the study's aims and a link to a Qualtrics questionnaire was emailed to them, with a request to share it with colleagues. A total of 110 participants completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that dietitians' personal resilience and their perceptions of the preparedness of the National Nutrition Division in the Ministry of Health to handle crises were negatively associated with strain symptoms beyond the effects of stress levels and control variables (β = -0.31, p < 0.001; β = -0.17, p < 0.05, respectively). However, dietitians' coping strategies and their trust in their organization's management decisions were not significantly related to decreased stress symptoms (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of using an ecological framework of resilience and understanding why and under which context-specific factors each resilience level contributes to dietitians' well-being. Practical implications involve prioritizing systemic national preparedness support and resilience-building programmes tailored to the unique challenges faced by dietitians.