322
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Psychological Flexibility Training to Enhance Resilience in Military Personnel

ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon, & ORCID Icon

References

  • Adler, A., Bliese, P. D., Barsade, S. G., & Sowden, W. (2022). Hitting the mark: The influence of emotional culture on resilient performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 107(2), 319–327. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000897
  • Afari, N., Herbert, M. S., Godfrey, K. M., Cuneo, J. G., Salamat, J. S., Mostoufi, S., Gasperi, M., Ober, K., Backhaus, A., Rutledge, T., & Wetherell, J. L. (2019). Acceptance and commitment therapy as an adjunct to the MOVE! programme: A randomized controlled trial. Obesity Science & Practice, 5(5), 397–407. https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.356
  • American Psychological Association. (2014). The road to resilience. http://www.apa.org/ helpcenter/road-resilience.aspx.
  • Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (2021, September). ACT randomized controlled trials (1986 to present). Retrieved from https://contextualscience.org/act_randomized_controlled_trials_1986_to_present
  • Bernier, M., Thienot, E., Codron, R., & Fournier, J. F. (2009). Mindfulness and acceptance approaches in sport performance. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 3(4), 320–333. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.3.4.320
  • Block, J., & Kremen, A. M. (1996). IQ and ego-resiliency: Conceptual and empirical connections and separateness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(2), 349–361. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.70.2.349
  • Bonanno, G. A. (2021). The end of trauma: How the new science of resilience is changing how we think about PTSD (1st ed.). Basic Books, Inc.
  • Bond, F. W., & Bunce, D. (2003). The role of acceptance and job control in mental health, job satisfaction, and work performance. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(6), 1057–1067. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.6.1057
  • Bond, F. W., & Flaxman, P. E. (2006). The ability of psychological flexibility and job control to predict learning, job performance, and mental health. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 26(1–2), 113–130. https://doi.org/10.1300/J075v26n01_05
  • Bond, F. W., Hayes, S. C., & Barnes-Holmes, D. (2006). Psychological flexibility, ACT, and organizational behavior. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 26(1–2), 25–54. https://doi.org/10.1300/J075v26n01_02
  • Bond, F. W., Hayes, S. C., Baer, R. A., Carpenter, K. M., Guenole, N., Orcutt, H. K., Waltz, T., & Zettle, R. D. (2011). Preliminary psychometric properties of the acceptance and action questionnaire-II: A revised measure of psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance. Behavior Therapy, 42(4), 676–688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2011.03.007
  • Britt, T., Adler, A., & Fynes, J. (2021). Perceived resilience and social connection as predictors of adjustment following occupational adversity. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 26(4), 339–349. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000286
  • Burton, N. W., Pakenham, K. I., & Brown, W. J. (2010). Feasibility and effectiveness of psychosocial resilience training: A pilot study of the ready program. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 15(3), 266–277. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548501003758710
  • Casey, G. W.Jr. (2011). Comprehensive soldier fitness: A vision for psychological resilience in the US Army. The American Psychologist, 66(1), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021930
  • Castro, C. A., Adler, A. B., McGurk, D., & Bliese, P. D. (2012). Mental health training with soldiers four months after returning from Iraq: Randomization by platoon. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 25(4), 376–383. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.21721
  • Castro, C. A., Hoge, C. W., & Cox, A. L. (2006). Battlemind training: Building soldier resiliency. In Human Dimensions in Military Operations – Military Leaders’ Strategies for Addressing Stress and Psychological Support. Meeting Proceedings RTO-MP-HFM-134, Paper 42 (pp. 42–1–42-6). RTO. Retrieved from http://www.rto.nato.int/abstracts.asp
  • DeBeer, B. B., Meyer, E. C., Kimbrel, N. A., Kittel, J. A., Gulliver, S. B., & Morissette, S. B. (2018). Psychological inflexibility predicts suicidal ideation over time in veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, 48(6), 627–641. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12388
  • Elliott, T. R., Hsiao, Y., Kimbrel, N. A., DeBeer, B. B., Gulliver, S. B., Kwok, O., Morissette, S. B., & Meyer, E. C. (2019). Resilience facilitates psychological and functional adjustment through greater psychological flexibility among Iraq/Afghanistan War veterans with and without mild traumatic brain injury. Rehabilitation Psychology, 64(4), 383–397. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000282
  • Evans, W. R., & Santanello, A. (2020, March). Engaging acceptance and commitment therapy processes to enhance resilience in military personnel. Web-based presentation for the Center for Deployment Psychology Presents webinar series.
  • Finnes, A., Ghaderi, A., Dahl, J., Nager, A., & Enebrink, P. (2019). Randomized controlled trial of acceptance and commitment therapy and a workplace intervention for sickness absence due to mental disorders. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 24(1), 198–212. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000097
  • Flaxman, P. E., & Bond, F. W. (2010). Worksite stress management training: Moderated effects and clinical significance. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 15(4), 347–358. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0020522
  • García, R. F., Villa, R. S., Cepeda, N. T., Cueto, E. G., & Montes, J. M. G. (2004). Efecto de la hipnosis y la terapia de aceptación y compromiso (ACT) en la mejora de la fuerza física en piragüistas. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 4(3), 481–493.
  • Gardner, F. L., & Moore, Z. E. (2004). A mindfulness-acceptance-commitment-based approach to athletic performance enhancement: Theoretical considerations. Behavior Therapy, 35(4), 707–723. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(04)80016-9
  • Gloster, A. T., Klotsche, J., Ciarrochi, J., Eifert, G., Sonntag, R., Wittchen, H.-U., & Hoyer, J. (2017). Increasing valued behaviors precedes reduction in suffering: Findings from a randomized controlled trial using act. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 91, 64–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2017.01.013
  • Gomes, K. D., Sanchez-Cardona, I., & Moore, B. A. (in press). Team resilience: Practical implications for military service members. Military Behavioral Health.
  • Griffith, J., & West, C. (2013). Master resilience training and its relationship to individual well-being and stress buffering among Army National Guard Soldiers. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 40(2), 140–155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-013-9320-8
  • Hayes, S. C., Hayes, S. C., Follette, V. M., Linehan, M., Follette, V. M., & Linehan, M. (2004). amp Mindfulness and acceptance: Expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition. Guilford Press.
  • Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J. B., Bond, F. W., Masuda, A., & Lillis, J. (2006). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Model, processes and outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.06.006
  • Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy: An experiential approach to behavior change. Guilford Press.
  • Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change. Guilford press.
  • Helmreich, I., Kunzler, A., Chmitorz, A., König, J., Binder, H., Wessa, M., & Lieb, K. (2017). Psychological interventions for resilience enhancement in adults. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017(2), 1–43. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD01252
  • Infurna, F. J., & Luthar, S. S. (2016). Resilience to major stressors is not as common as thought. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 11(2), 175–194.
  • Institute of Medicine (2014). Preventing psychological disorders in service members and their families: An assessment of programs. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/18597
  • Ivanova, E., Yaakoba-Zohar, N., Jensen, D., Cassoff, J., & Knäuper, B. (2016). Acceptance and commitment therapy and implementation intentions increase exercise enjoyment and long-term exercise behavior among low-active women. Current Psychology, 35(1), 108–114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9349-3
  • Jha, A. P., Morrison, A. B., Dainer-Best, J., Parker, S., Rostrup, N., & Stanley, E. A. (2015). Minds “at attention”: Mindfulness training curbs attentional lapses in military cohorts. PLOS One, 10(2), e0116889.
  • Judkins, J. L., Moore, B. A., Collette, T. L., Hale, W. J., Peterson, A. L., & Morissette, S. B. (2020). Incidence rates of posttraumatic stress disorder over a 17-year period in active duty military service members. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 33(6), 994–1006. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22558
  • Kalisch, R., Müller, M. B., & Tüscher, O. (2015). A conceptual framework for the neurobiological study of resilience. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 38, 92. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X1400082X
  • Kashdan, T. B., & Rottenberg, J. (2010). Psychological flexibility as a fundamental aspect of health. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(7), 865–878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.001
  • Kashdan, T. B., Disabato, D. J., Goodman, F. R., Doorley, J. D., & McKnight, P. E. (2020). Understanding psychological flexibility: A multimethod exploration of pursuing valued goals despite the presence of distress. Psychological Assessment, 32(9), 829–850. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0000834
  • Lang, A. J., Schnurr, P. P., Jain, S., He, F., Walser, R. D., Bolton, E., Benedek, D. M., Norman, S. B., Sylvers, P., Flashman, L., Strauss, J., Raman, R., & Chard, K. M. (2017). Randomized controlled trial of acceptance and commitment therapy for distress and impairment in OEF/OIF/OND veterans. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, 9(Suppl 1), 74–84. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000127
  • Lester, P. B., Harms, P. D., Herian, M., Krasikova, D. V., & Beal, S. J. (2011). The comprehensive soldier fitness program evaluation. Report 3: Longitudinal analysis of the impact of master resilience training on self-reported resilience and psychological health data. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032& context=publicpolicyfacpub
  • Levin, M. E., Petersen, J. M., Durward, C., Bingeman, B., Davis, E., Nelson, C., & Cromwell, S. (2021). A randomized controlled trial of online acceptance and commitment therapy to improve diet and physical activity among adults who are overweight/obese. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 11(6), 1216–1225. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibaa123
  • Levin, M., & Hayes, S. C. (2009). ACT, RFT, and contextual behavioral science. In J. T. Blackledge, J. Ciarrochi, & F. P. Deane (Eds.), Acceptance and commitment therapy: Contemporary theory, research and practice (pp. 1–40). Australian Academic Press.
  • Luthar, S. S., Cicchetti, D., & Becker, B. (2000). The construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child Development, 71(3), 543–562.
  • Masedo, A. I., & Rosa Esteve, M. (2007). Effects of suppression, acceptance and spontaneous coping on pain tolerance, pain intensity and distress. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45(2), 199–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2006.02.006
  • Masten, A., & Coatsworth, J. D. (1998). The development of competence in favorable and unfavorable environments: Lessons from research on successful children. American Psychologist, 53, 205–220.
  • Meyer, E. C., Kotte, A., Kimbrel, N. A., DeBeer, B. B., Elliott, T. R., Gulliver, S. B., & Morissette, S. B. (2019). Predictors of lower-than-expected posttraumatic symptom severity in war Veterans: The influence of personality, self-reported resilience, and psychological flexibility. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 113, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2018.12.005
  • Meyer, E. C., La Bash, H., DeBeer, B. B., Kimbrel, N. A., Gulliver, S. B., & Morissette, S. B. (2019). Psychological inflexibility predicts PTSD symptom severity in war veterans after accounting for established PTSD risk factors and personality. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, 11(4), 383–390. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000358
  • Meyer, E. C., Walser, R. D., Hermann, B., La Bash, H., DeBeer, B. B., Morissette, S. B., Kimbrel, N. A., Kwok, O.-M., Batten, S. V., & Schnurr, P. P. (2018). Acceptance and commitment therapy for co-occurring PTSD and alcohol use disorders in veterans: Pilot treatment outcomes. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 31(5), 781–789. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22322
  • Moran, D. J. (2010). ACT for leadership: Using acceptance and commitment training to develop crisis-resilient change managers. International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, 6(4), 341–355. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0100915
  • Moran, D. J. (2015). Acceptance and commitment training in the workplace. Current Opinion in Psychology, 2, 26–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2014.12.031
  • Peterson, A. L., Cigrang, J. A., & Isler, W. (2009). Future directions: Trauma, resilience, and recovery research. In Living and surviving in harm’s way (pp. 497–522). Routledge.
  • Phillips, M. A., Chase, T., Bautista, C., Tang, A., & Teng, E. J. (2020). Using acceptance and commitment therapy techniques to enhance treatment engagement in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 84(3), 264–277. https://doi.org/10.1521/bumc.2020.84.3.264
  • Ramirez, M. W., Woodworth, C. A., Evans, W. R., Grace, G. A., Schobitz, R. P., Villarreal, S. A., Howells, C. J., Gissendanner, R. D., Katko, N. J., Jones, K. N., McCabe, A. E., & Terrell, D. J. (2021). A trauma-focused intensive outpatient program integrating elements of exposure therapy with acceptance and commitment therapy: Program development and initial outcomes. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 21, 66–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.06.002
  • Reivich, K. J., Seligman, M. E. P., & McBride, S. (2011). Master resilience training in the US Army. The American Psychologist, 66(1), 25–34. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021897
  • Reyes, A. T., Song, H., Bhatta, T. R., & Kearney, C. A. (2022). Exploring the relationships between resilience, mindfulness, and experiential avoidance after the use of a mindfulness- and acceptance-based mobile app for posttraumatic stress disorder. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 58(2), 776–784. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12848
  • Roddy, M. K., Boykin, D. M., Hadlandsmyth, K., Marchman, J. N., Green, D. M., Buckwalter, J. A., Garvin, L., Zimmerman, B., Bae, J., Cortesi, J., Rodrigues, M., Embree, J., Rakel, B. A., & Dindo, L. (2020). One-day acceptance and commitment therapy workshop for preventing persistent post-surgical pain and dysfunction in at-risk veterans: A randomized controlled trial protocol. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 138, 110250–110250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110250
  • Rutter, M. (1985). Resilience in the face of adversity: Protective factors and resistance to psychiatric disorder. The British Journal of Psychiatry: The Journal of Mental Science, 147(6), 598–611. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.147.6.598
  • Ryan, A. K., Pakenham, K. I., & Burton, N. W. (2020). A pilot evaluation of a group acceptance and commitment therapy-informed resilience training program for people with diabetes. Australian Psychologist, 55(3), 196–207. https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12429
  • Sandoz, E. K., Moyer, D. N., & Armelie, A. P. (2015). Psychological flexibility as a framework for understanding and improving family reintegration following military deployment. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 41(4), 495–507. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12086
  • Seligman, M. (2021). Effectiveness of positive psychology setting the record straight. The Chronicle of Higher Education. https://www.chronicle.com/article/effectiveness-of-positive-psychology.
  • Singal, J. (2021). Positive psychology goes to war how the army adopted an untested, evidence-free approach to fighting PTSD. The Chronicle of Higher Education. https://www.chronicle.com/article/positive-psychology-goes-to-war.
  • Smith, B. M., Villatte, J. L., Ong, C. W., Butcher, G. M., Twohig, M. P., Levin, M. E., & Hayes, S. C. (2019). The influence of a personal values intervention on cold pressor-induced distress tolerance. Behavior Modification, 43(5), 688–710. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445518782402
  • Stainton, A., Chisholm, K., Kaiser, N., Rosen, M., Upthegrove, R., Ruhrmann, S., & Wood, S. J. (2019). Resilience as a multimodal dynamic process. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 13(4), 725–732. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.12726
  • Steenkamp, M. M., Nash, W. P., & Litz, B. T. (2013). Post-traumatic stress disorder: Review of the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 44(5), 507–512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2013.01.013
  • Udell, C. J., Ruddy, J. L., & Procento, P. M. (2018). Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy in increasing resilience and reducing attrition of injured us navy recruits. Military Medicine, 183(9–10), e603–e611. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usx109
  • Wagnild, G. M., & Young, H. M. (1993). Development and psychometric evaluation of the Resilience Scale. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 1(2), 165–17847.
  • Walser, R. D., Garvert, D. W., Karlin, B. E., Trockel, M., Ryu, D. M., & Taylor, C. B. (2015). Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy in treating depression and suicidal ideation in veterans. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 74, 25–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2015.08.012
  • Wolanin, A. T. (2004). Mindfulness-acceptance-commitment (MAC) based performance enhancement for Division I collegiate athletes: A preliminary investigation. La Salle University. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/openview/2052a3a1ff979b94cb4de14a7b89691f/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
  • Zinn, J. K. (1994). Wherever you go, there you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life (pp. 78–80). Hyperion.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.