The Effect of an Antifragility Enhancement Workshop on the Coping Self‐Efficacy, Mental Toughness, and Psychological Well‐Being of Naval Personnel

Background Stress is prevalent in naval contexts, and resilience enhancement programmes are crucial for protecting against the negative outcomes of stress. Antifragility, which focuses on growth and development through adversity, may offer additional benefits beyond traditional resilience. Aims This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a 3‐session Create S.P.A.C.E. antifragility workshop on coping self‐efficacy, mental toughness, and psychological well‐being among navy sailors, and to assess the contribution of coping self‐efficacy and mental toughness to well‐being. Method A retrospective review of psychometric records was conducted. Participants ( n = 183) completed the Coping Self‐Efficacy Scale‐26, Mental Toughness Questionnaire‐18, and Psychological Wellbeing Scale‐18 before and after the workshop, with follow‐up at 3 months ( n = 87). A control group ( n = 72) completed the same measures over a similar interval without intervention. Paired t ‐tests, repeated measures ANOVA, and hierarchical regression were used in the analysis. Results Intervention participants showed significant improvements across all measures post‐workshop ( p < 0.001), with large effect sizes, maintained at the 3‐month follow‐up. Coping self‐efficacy continued to increase over follow‐up ( p < 0.05). No significant changes occurred in controls. Coping self‐efficacy and mental toughness together explained 59% of the variance in psychological well‐being, each contributing significantly after controlling for demographic variables. Conclusions The Create S.P.A.C.E. workshop enhanced coping self‐efficacy, mental toughness, and psychological well‐being, with sustained benefits. These findings suggest its potential as a scalable, culturally adaptable intervention to foster antifragility in military and other high‐stress populations.