The Moderating Role of Resilience Factors for At-Risk US Army Soldiers-in-Training: An Expansion of a Person-Centered Approach to Adverse Childhood Experiences

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a widespread problem within the United States, with disproportionally high rates among military personnel. However, both intra- and interpersonal resilience factors may help to protect individuals against the negative consequences of adversity on mental health. Data from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience were used to examine how resilience factors (i.e., stress tolerance, positive orientation, and social resources) moderated the connections between unique compilations of ACEs and mental health (i.e., anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) among soldiers-in-training between the ages of 18 and 25 (n = 30,836). Using five subgroups previously identified by their ACEs history (i.e., low adversity, moderate emotional adversity, elevated emotional adversity, moderate structural adversity, and high cumulative adversity groups), a series of three-step hierarchical linear regressions were conducted. Several interaction effects were found. The buffering effect of stress tolerance against anxiety, depression, and PTSD was stronger for those in several adversity groups compared to those with low adversity. In contrast, social resources had an amplifying effect on PTSD for those with elevated emotional adversity. Positive orientation did not moderate the connections between ACEs groups and mental health.