Objective      To investigate the stress-related growth (SRG) and its influencing factors in freshmen from a military medical university after military training for new recruits and 300 km hiking.       Methods      Posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI)

Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC)

Positive and negative affect scale (PANAS)

state trait anxiety inventory (STAI)

and center for epidemiologic studies depression scale (CESD) were applied to survey 565 fresh medical cadets after 2 months’ military training and 300 km hiking.       Results      The total score of SRG was 69.19±18.65 for the students. SRG was positively correlated with resilience and positive affect (r=0.728

0.703

P0.01)

and negatively correlated with negative affect

state anxiety

trait anxiety

and depression (r=-0.499

-0.644

-0.673

and -0.249

P0.01). Compared with the lower SRG group

the higher SRG group had higher resilience and positive affect (P0.01)

but lower negative affect

state anxiety

trait anxiety and depression (P0.01). Resilience

positive affect and trait anxiety were important predictors for SRG

and could explain 61.5% of the total variance in SRG.       Conclusion      Enhancing the levels of positive affect and resilience and reducing anxiety and depression can contribute to the improvement of SRG and mental health in fresh cadets.