Psychology of Resilience: Dynamic Insights from Military Recruit Research

Is resilience a fixed trait you’re born with, or a skill you can build? As both a researcher and therapist, I’m often asked why some thrive under pressure while others struggle. Our latest study, recently published in Development and Psychopathology, challenges the "static" view of mental toughness. By tracking 657 Army National Guard recruits through the high-pressure environment of Basic Combat Training (BCT), we’ve captured a clear picture of resilience as a dynamic psychological process. At Polusny Therapy, we translate these military insights into a practical path from adversity to resilience. Understanding how soldiers navigate the "mental terrain" of BCT offers a blueprint for anyone navigating life’s most difficult transitions.

Understanding Resilience as a Dynamic Process (The ARMOR Study)

Military training provides a unique "natural laboratory." Because the stressors are standardized—sleep deprivation, physical intensity, and a total loss of autonomy—it allows us to isolate the individual factors that help a person stay psychologically "buoyant."

Our study, the ARMOR (Advancing Research on Mechanisms of Resilience) project conducted at the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis VA Health Care System, yielded three key insights that change how we think about human adaptation:

3 Key Predictors of Mental Health and Stress Adaptation

1. The Link Between Emotion Regulation and Internalizing Distress

The strongest predictor of how a recruit’s mental health would change wasn't their physical strength, but their emotion regulation skills. Those who entered training with difficulty identifying, describing, or managing their emotions were at the highest risk for increased anxiety, depression, and anger post-training. This confirms what we see in trauma therapy: the ability to "stay with" and manage difficult feelings is the foundation of mental health.

2. The Intelligence Paradox: Why High Cognitive Ability Can Increase Stress

Perhaps our most surprising finding was the link between cognitive ability and distress. We found that recruits with higher general intelligence actually reported more internalizing symptoms during training.

In an environment like BCT, where autonomy is stripped away and you are told exactly what to do, being a "high-level thinker" can actually be a liability. When you are used to solving problems and having control, a low-autonomy environment can feel uniquely taxing. This reminds us that a "strength" in one context can become a "stressor" in another.

3. How Lifetime Adversity Impacts Adult Stress Response

We found that a history of lifetime adversity acted as a persistent weight. Recruits with a higher "adversity load" were more vulnerable to the psychological toll of training. This suggests that resilience isn't about being "toughened" by past pain; rather, past trauma can sensitize our systems, making the "ordinary magic" of adaptation harder to achieve without the right support.

Clinical Implications: How to Build Resilience Before High-Stress Transitions

These findings have profound implications for how we approach mental health interventions, both in the military and in private practice:

• Building the Foundation Early: Because emotion regulation is such a powerful lever, we shouldn't wait for people to hit a breaking point. Proactive training in mindfulness and self-regulation before a high-stress event can build the "psychological muscle" needed to endure.

• Context Matters: We must look at the person-environment fit. If you are a high-achiever struggling in a rigid environment, your distress isn't a sign of weakness—it may be a natural reaction to a loss of autonomy.

• Support for the "Adversity Load": For those who carry a history of trauma, the path to resilience requires more than just "grit." It requires specialized, trauma-informed support that acknowledges the extra weight they are carrying.

Evidence-Based Trauma Therapy and Resilience Training

Resilience is not a superhero's shield; it is, as my colleague Dr. Ann Masten calls it, "ordinary magic." It is the result of our basic human adaptive systems working the way they should.

By identifying the specific "gears" of this system—like emotion regulation—we can create better interventions to help people move from adversity to growth. Whether you’re facing an intense life transition or working through the challenges of trauma recovery, the goal is the same: building the internal tools to weather the storm.

Take the Next Step

If you are navigating a high-stress transition or looking to build your own toolkit for resilience, I invite you to learn more about my trauma therapy services and schedule a consultation. Together, we can work on the skills that turn "stress" into an opportunity for growth.

About Dr. Melissa Polusny

Dr. Melissa Polusny is a Board-Certified Clinical Psychologist and Professor at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with over 30 years of experience specializing in the assessment and treatment of PTSD. A recognized expert in evidence-based care, Dr. Polusny combines her deep academic expertise with a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to help individuals reclaim their lives from the effects of trauma.

Full Study Citation: McDonald MA, Marquardt CA, Noorbaloochi S, Hagel Campbell E, Masten AS, Polusny MA. Resilience as a dynamic process among military recruits exposed to basic combat training stressors. Development and Psychopathology. Published online 2026:1-13. doi:10.1017/S0954579426101199. [Link to Paper]