Are Optimistic Repatriates More Hardy and Resilient?

Abstract

Previous research conducted by the RE Mitchell Center for Prisoner of War Studies (REMC) has concluded that optimism proved to be the strongest predictor of health and resilience in a group of Vietnam era Repatriated Prisoners of War (RPWs). Optimism is associated with increased positive psychological health in those afflicted by extreme trauma or illness (Segovia et. al, 2012). In the follow-up study (Segovia et. al, 2015), optimism measured at repatriation was again an excellent predictor of a composite measure of psychological (9 component measures) and physical (9 component measures) health. Further studies measured psychological resilience and individual components of hardiness as a mediating factor, but did not study the relationship of optimism or pessimism on resilience and hardiness. The aim of this study is to exploit whether optimists are more hardy and resilient as compared to a pessimist.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 05, 2016
Accession Number
ADA631863

Entities

People

  • Jeffrey L. Moore
  • John P. Albano
  • Saima S. Raza

Organizations

  • United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Cognitive Science
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Human Behavior
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Operations
  • Personality
  • Prisoners
  • Prisoners Of War
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychology
  • Resilience
  • Social Psychology
  • Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • United States

Readers

  • Criminal Law
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.
  • Strategic Security Studies