Resilience in late adolescence/young adulthood: Rising to the occasion?

The developmental period of late adolescence/young adulthood is characterized by transitioning to an independent individual with a self-identity, established health habits and the components of resilience: (1) confidence in one’s abilities (personal competence) and (2) the ability to adapt to changes (acceptance of self and life). This two-wave, prospective study examines the associations among self-identity, health habits and resilience in 18 year olds (n = 149) before military service and six months afterward. The questionnaire included validated scales of resilience and self-identity, as well as instruments measuring health habits, family environment and demographic characteristics. Cross-sectional findings indicated that resilience at baseline was associated with gender-male (p < .05), lower distress (p < .001) and higher identity-affirmation/belonging (p < .05). Longitudinal findings showed that resilience was associated with changes of distress (p < .05) and the resilience component of personal competence (p < .001). Cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives on 18-year-old military recruits portrayed different pictures. The cross-sectional findings showed that resilience was associated with lower distress and higher feelings of affirmation/belonging (self-identity); however, longitudinal findings showed that resilience was predicted by the ability to adapt to changes under stress. Resilient 18 year olds demonstrated the ability to adapt to stressful situations, but psychological distress may impede the development of self-identity.