Psychological distress and coping in military cadre candidates

Abstract

BackgroundSoldiers must cope with stressors during both military operations and training if they are to accomplish their missions successfully and stay mentally stable. This holds true particularly for military superiors, as they bear greater responsibilities and must meet greater demands during both deployment and training. Accordingly, in the present study, we investigated whether recruits chosen for further promotion at the end of basic training differed with regard to psychological distress and coping strategies from those not chosen for promotion, and whether recruits’ coping styles and distress levels were associated.MethodsA total of 675 Swiss recruits took part in the study. At the beginning of basic training, recruits filled out self-rating questionnaires covering demographic data, psychological distress (depression, somatization, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity, and hostility), and coping styles. Results were compared between those recruits who received a recommendation for further promotion at the end of basic training and those who did not.ResultsRecruits selected for promotion had lower scores for depressive symptoms and hostility, engaged more in active coping, and considered their coping to be more effective. Dysfunctional and functional coping were associated with higher and lower distress levels, respectively.ConclusionRecruits recommended for promotion exhibited less psychological distress during basic training and exhibited a socially more conducive profile of distress. They also endorsed more efficient and more prosocial coping strategies than those recruits not recommended for promotion. These cognitive–emotional features not only contribute to resilience but are also consistent with leadership research, indicating the importance of emotional stability and prosocial behavior in successful leaders.

Resilience as a Protective Factor in Basic Military Training, a Longitudinal Study of the Swiss Armed Forces

“…Given this general background and shifting to the military context, military personnel are exposed to different kinds of stress [ 18 , 19 ]. Almost by definition, people in the military are executing dangerous and stressful work and accordingly, they also have an elevated risk of suffering from stress-related disorders following military deployment [ 18 ].…”

“…Given this general background and shifting to the military context, military personnel are exposed to different kinds of stress [ 18 , 19 ]. Almost by definition, people in the military are executing dangerous and stressful work and accordingly, they also have an elevated risk of suffering from stress-related disorders following military deployment [ 18 ]. Not surprisingly, and compared to those not in the military, military personnel are at a higher risk of developing other psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse [ 20 ].…”

“…In this respect, and compared to non-military personnel, military personnel have a higher prevalence for one or more of the common psychiatric disorders; such psychiatric disorders have been causally linked to the stressors specific to military service [ 21 , 22 , 26 , 27 ]. While not all those in the military are involved in combat settings, as Nakkas et al [ 18 ] observed, military training in peacetime is intended to provide preparation for combat situations. That is to say, the goal of military training is to enable service personnel to perform under adverse conditions characterized by low control, high stress, and high levels of uncertainty.…”

Examining the impact of mindfulness and self-compassion on the relationship between mental health and resiliency

“…People have different coping abilities to deal with demands and experiences, which may be deemed to be more stressful to some. For instance, deadlines, workrelated pressure (such as upholding good service) and complex problem solving can cause higher levels of anxiety and stress amongst individuals (Brand, Nakkas, & Annen, 2016). Overall, the literature indictates that mental health issues can contribute negatively in several ways throughout the lifespan, and public health incentives are a long way from influencing the current way mental health is identified and treated (see Mantzios, 2020;Mantzios, Egan, & Cook, 2019a, b).…”

Coping strategies and perceived stress in Russian army conscripts

“…The use of a perceived stress and coping strategies measurement combination is increasingly common in studies of law enforcement officers [3, 23, 24, et al]. It was shown that the use of productive coping strategies is associated with a lower severity of PTSD signs [25], enhancing performance and cognitive function [26] and the development of life skills [27], a decrease in psychological distress [28] and social anxiety [29]. However, this influence is largely determined by factors of the so-called "adaptogenic" context [30], i.e.…”