Whilst military veterans report elevated exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and subsequent mental ill health, a lack of enduring psychopathology is the norm. Despite increased focus on psychological resilience, variability in conceptualisations, models and the relationship with mental health outcomes remain.

This study sought to explore the associations between one contemporary model of psychological resilience – the Flexibility Sequence – with symptoms of anxiety and depression in a UK military veteran cohort.

Data from 300 UK veterans were used in linear regression models exploring the relationship between symptoms of common mental health difficulties (CMD; anxiety and depression) and the three stages of the Flexibility Sequence model (Context Sensitivity, Repertoire, Feedback Responsiveness).

Greater competency across the stages of the model was associated with reduced symptom severity. Reduced sensitivity to the absence rather than presence of contextual cues was significantly associated with higher symptomology. Women veterans reported significantly higher competency in the Repertoire stage compared to men.

Findings support the utility of the Flexibility Sequence as a model of resilience. The model and associations may help inform interventions that aim to bolster psychological resilience, particularly in at-risk, high PTE-exposed populations, whilst also taking into account variation such as gender differences.