Resilience and psychopathology in trauma-exposed Australian Veterans: An exploratory factor analysis of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale

Abstract: Military service personnel may be exposed to significant adversity during their military careers, including combat trauma and potential threats to physical integrity and safety that can have an impact on their psychological health. Resilience, the ability to effectively cope with and adapt to significant adversity, is thought to be a key protective factor against the development of psychological disorders after exposure to these events. As such, programs have been developed to help personnel and Veterans develop and strengthen their resilience. It is vital that these programs are assessed with reliable and valid measures of resilience. This study examines the use of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, a measure of resilience, in an Australian Veteran sample and explores attributes of resilience that contribute to psychological health.