An exploratory analysis of hardiness and health behaviours in Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) recruits

LAY SUMMARY Previous research suggests hardiness is crucial to military success, as it is protective against combat, training, and occupational stress. However, there is limited research on hardiness within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). This study explored whether hardiness varied by socio-demographic factors (e.g., age, sex, education, language, income, rank) and examined its relationship with various healthy behaviours (e.g., condom use, healthy eating, physical activity) and risky behaviours (e.g., alcohol use, sedentary activity, smoking) in CAF recruits. Hardiness differed by socio-demographic factors. Furthermore, it was positively associated with healthy behaviours and negatively associated with risky behaviours. The CAF can use these results to promote resiliency strategies to improve hardiness and health behaviours in recruits with low hardiness.