Coping strategies and perceived stress in Russian army conscripts

Abstract

The article is devoted to the search for effective patterns of coping with stress in conscripts in different branches of Russian armed forces. The article presents the results of an empirical study of the relationship between coping strategies and the perceived traumatic stress of conscripts (N = 118) serving in the Aerospace, Railway and Air Defense units of the ground forces. Significant differences in indicators of perceived stress and coping among conscripts serving in different types of troops, associated with differences in the conditions of their professional activity, are shown. Multivariate regression analysis revealed the existence of specific coping patterns that involve the rejection of ineffective strategies and the use of effective ones. It is shown that these patterns are not universal, i.e. the effectiveness of the chosen coping strategies differs among ordinary soldiers serving in different branches of the armed forces. Conclusions are drawn about the need to take into account the peculiarities of military service in specific types of units when training and psychological support of conscripts in ways of effective adaptation to the conditions of military service.