Role of hardiness in the psychological well-being of canadian forces officer candidates

Abstract

Previous research has found that hardiness is associated with greater psychological well-being and lower levels of stress. This study examined the role of hardiness in the psychological well-being of military offi cer candidates undergoing basic training. Although most researchers have conceptualized hardiness as a global psychological construct, it is possible that military-specifi c hardiness, which pertains specifi cally to work experiences in the military environment, may be a more relevant measure. The role of both general and military-specifi c hardiness in life satisfaction, health symptoms, training satisfaction, and training stress was examined. The results of this study were consistent with those of previous research, suggesting that military-specifi c hardiness is an important predictor of psychological well-being of military personnel. Furthermore, military-specifi c hardiness served as a better predictor of the psychological well-being of military personnel than general hardiness. The implications of the fi ndings and future research suggestions are discussed. Copyright (c) Association of Military Surgeons of the US. All rights reserved.