A Path to Post-Trauma Resilience: A Mediation Model of the Flexibility Sequence

Background: Psychological resilience has grown in popularity as a topic of study in psychotraumatology research, however this concept remains poorly understood. There are several competing theories of resilience, however this study sought to assess the support for one proposed theory; the Flexibility Sequence.Methodology: This study utilised secondary data analysis of panel survey data (N=563, participants were 18+ and based in the UK). A series of sequential mediation models were used to test the Flexibility Sequence theory as a proposed pathways of Resilience on mental health outcomes (PTSD, Anxiety, & Depression) among a trauma-exposed sample from the UK.Results: It was found that the Feedback component of the proposed Flexibility Sequence components was associated with reduced symptom severity with all outcomes, and Context Sensitivity and Repertoire were significantly associated only with Depression as an outcome. When indirect mediation pathways were modelled via the Flexibility Sequence statistically significant effects were observed for all outcomes under investigation.Discussion: These findings support the theorised Flexibility Sequence pathway of resilience, suggesting that the combination of these skills/processes perform more favourably as a framework of resilience than any in isolation. Further research into more elaborate associations and feedback loops associated with this pathway is warranted.