Soldiers' resilience? A systematic review of micro-, meso-, and macro-level resilience factors in the military.

The military profession is highly challenging because soldiers are exposed to potentially traumatic stressors which cannot be avoided. Given that these stressors are associated with psychological health risks, the need for resilience has become crucial within the military. Although research has recognized the importance of a multilevel consideration of resilience in military populations, little research has been done on this so far. Hence, we aimed to systematically review individual (micro-level) and organizational (meso- and macro-level) resilience factors among active-duty soldiers. During our search, we identified nine studies for inclusion, of which two used qualitative and seven applied quantitative methods. We identified 82 resilience factors on all levels. Most studies focused on micro-level factors, such as adaptive coping or individual characteristics, whereas meso- (e.g., leadership behavior) and macro-level factors (e.g., structural conditions) remain underrepresented. Moreover, no included study investigated multilevel factors with nested data. We discuss these findings from a systemic perspective, shifting the responsibility for building a resilient environment from the individual to the organization. Thus, we highlight that resilience should be promoted through significant organizational practices that ensure access to resources, enhance a sense of belonging, and reduce stigma. Moreover, we recommend that military organizations first address structural conditions and cultural barriers to resilience. Our findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of how resilience can be developed across micro, meso, and macro levels within military organizations and offer new perspectives for sustainable resilience building in the military. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier [CRD42021254629].