Evaluating Resilience Factors in the Face of Traumatic Events in Kuwait

Abstract

Objective – To identify the personality characteristics of resilience in contemporary Kuwaiti society, in the aftermath of Iraqi invasion of the State of Kuwait during 1990. Method – Ego Resiliency Scale (ER89), a 14-item self-report inventory scale with a maximum score of 56, was administered to a sample of 495 male and female students of Kuwait University, aged 17 and above. Students were also grouped according to gender, age, type of education, family type, social status, educational bent, and marital status to assess the effect of these variables in their resilience scores. Results – Over one-third (37%) of valid subjects qualified as highly resilient, with the males scoring higher than scores than the females. Students from extended families scored higher than those from nuclear families. Science students had higher resilience scores than arts students. Conclusion – There is significant resilience and adaptability among Kuwaitis, with males scoring higher than females. This study could serve as a baseline for future inquiry into strength and resilience qualities of the Arab population in the Arabian Gulf region. Keywords: