Perceived resilience and social connection as predictors of adjustment following occupational adversity.

Abstract

The present research examined social connection as a mediator through which perceived resilience prior to a combat deployment predicts fewer posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms for soldiers exposed to high levels of combat. Soldiers (N = 1,222) completed the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and a measure of PTSD symptoms prior to deploying to Afghanistan (Time 1) and measures of combat exposure and social connection immediately after the deployment (Time 2). Soldiers then completed measures of PTSD symptoms at 3 months (Time 3) and 10-12 months (Time 4) following the deployment. Within the context of the Conservation of Resources (COR) model, perceived resilience and social connection represented personal and social resources that allow military personnel to demonstrate better mental health when confronted with the traumatic stressor of combat exposure. Perceived resilience prior to the deployment interacted with combat exposure to predict PTSD symptoms at Time 3 and Time 4 after controlling for baseline PTSD symptoms. Perceived resilience was more strongly related to PTSD symptoms under higher levels of combat exposure. Moderated mediation models provided support for social connection as a mediator of the relationship between perceived resilience at baseline and PTSD symptoms at Time 3 and 4 under higher levels of combat exposure. The results provide some of the first empirical evidence regarding the predictive value of perceived resilience prior to potentially traumatic exposure and document social connection as an important resource linking perceived resilience to positive adaptation after adversity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).