Date of Conferral

2016

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Matthew E. Fearrington,

Abstract

Helping individuals develop, foster, and maintain resilience skills is particularly important with Service members as they face multiple deployments and the stress caused by long periods of separations from home and support systems. These separations and prolonged time spent in dangerous environments with the possibility of death and injury can make soldiers more susceptible to stressors that might affect their morale and ability to perform necessary duties required in combat. This study used a quantitative research method approach to better understand how resilience influences performance outcomes among combat veterans. The study was comprised of 76 participants that have served at least one year in combat in Afghanistan or Iraq. Research instruments used to gather data included three psychometric instruments The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), and The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). In addition, participant's Army Physical Fitness Test and Weapons qualification scores, taken within a year of the study, were collected. The results of this study indicated two significant correlations exist. Results of this study revealed that increased levels of resilience and self-efficacy shared a positive correlation with greater accuracy with the M16 rifle. Findings from this study indicated that soldiers with strong problem solving skills and confidence in their abilities tend to perform at a higher level with the M-16. Findings from this study should be useful in providing military leaders, soldiers, and health care providers a better understanding of how soldier's resilience influences their ability to perform core tasks.

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