Objective To explore the role of mental resilience in mediating personality traits and state-anxiety.Methods With cluster sampling, 591 newly recruited sergeants from a training base were investigated using the Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC), trait-state-anxiety scale and simplified personality factor questionnaire. The relationships between variables were analyzed by correlation analysis, hierarchical regression analysis and structural equation model.Results A total of 579 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective rate of 97.97%. The correlation analysis revealed that state-anxiety was negatively associated with mental resilience and personality traits of stability, dominance, rule conscious, social boldness and perfection (all P < 0.01), and positively correlated with personality traits of apprehension, self-reliance and tension (all P < 0.01); mental resilience was positively correlated with personality traits of stability, dominance, rule conscious social boldness and perfection (all P < 0.01) and was negatively correlated with personality traits of apprehension and tension (both P < 0.01). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that the personality traits of stability, apprehension, tension and mental resilience could independently predict state-anxiety. The analyses of 2 structural equation models indicated that when the 3 independent variables (stability, apprehension and tension) were included, except tension (P=0.117), the mediating effects of mental resilience between the other 2 independent variables (stability and apprehension) and state-anxiety were significant (both P < 0.001); while 2 independent variables (stability and apprehension) were included, the mediating effects of mental resilience between both of them and state-anxiety were significant (both P < 0.001), and there was no significant difference between the effect size of stability and apprehension (P=0.706).Conclusion Mental resilience can partially mediates the relationship between personality traits (stability and apprehension) and state-anxiety. Improving the mental resilience and personality trait of stability and reducing the personality trait of apprehension can effectively reduce the level of state-anxiety of newly recruited sergeants.