Content area
Background: The relationship between resilience and emotional intelligence and its influence on military personnel has become the object of research in recent years, since today’s combatant faces significant physical and psychological challenges. Therefore, the general objective of this study was to analyze the psychological variables of resilience and emotional intelligence in military personnel in the Spanish Army and their relationship as a function of civilian status. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out. The sample consisted of 739 military personnel (officers, non-commissioned officers, and troops), with a mean age of 33.29 years (SD = 7.48) (87.7% were men and 12.3% were women) who filled in the ad hoc questionnaire on sociodemographic variables, the Resilience Scale (RS), and the Emotional Intelligence Inventory (EQ-i-M20). Results: The results showed a positive relationship between resilience and emotional intelligence, although no association was found with age. No significant differences were observed in the levels of resilience and emotional intelligence based on gender. However, differences were found according to marital status, with military personnel in the Spanish Army who were widowed showing lower levels of resilience and emotional intelligence compared to those who were single, married, or divorced. The regression model indicated a direct effect of resilience on emotional intelligence. Conclusions: The most relevant contributions of this work are related to the role of resilience and EI in military personnel in promoting health and well-being, in line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda Goals. In conclusion, it is considered necessary to design intervention programs aimed at strengthening resilience in widowed military personnel in order to improve their well-being and their ability to identify, understand, and manage both their own emotions and those of others. This could facilitate the achievement of institutional objectives and promote quality of life of personnel in the Spanish Army.
