EVALUATING THE EFFECT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE RESILIENCE OF MALE AND FEMALE MIDSHIPMEN AT THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
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Authors
Perezurena, Paloma D.
Richardson, Kate L.
Subjects
resilience
gender
midshipmen
male
female
coronavirus
COVID-19
gender
midshipmen
male
female
coronavirus
COVID-19
Advisors
Shen, Yu-Chu
Bacho, Erick, United States Naval Academy
Date of Issue
2023-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
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Abstract
In June 2020, the Centers for Disease Control reported a 31% increase in anxiety and depression among adults in the United States due to a worldwide pandemic, the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). For a few years, protocols to mitigate virus spread existed in the United States and were strictly enforced among members of the armed forces. This pandemic raised the question of how this unfamiliar situation affected a military member’s ability to recover from an adverse situation. This paper analyzes the resilience of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) over a four-month period during the height of COVID-19 restrictions. The research utilizes pre-collected survey data that tested Midshipman resilience in June and September 2020, utilizing Smith et al.’s 2008 Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). Literature indicates varying gender resilience responses to adverse stimuli; therefore, BRS scores were separated into male and female categories and further into graduating cohorts: the Classes of 2021–2023. The results indicate a statistically significant decrease in overall resilience score for all surveyed females and the Class of 2022 female cohort when stratified by graduating class. Similarly, we observe a statistically significant decrease in resilience when examining all male students and within the three separate graduating male cohorts. Through our findings, this study attempts to bring awareness to gender-specific responses to adversity.
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Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.