Psychological distress and coping in military cadre candidates

Can Nakkas,1 Hubert Annen,1 Serge Brand2,3 1Department of Military Psychology Studies, Military Academy at ETH Zurich, Zurich, 2Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, 3Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, Univers...

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Autores principales:	Nakkas C, Annen H, Br, S
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Dove Medical Press 2016
Materias:	military training stress recruits coping leadership Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry RC321-571 Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system RC346-429
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/628688649ea04dc5ab6a44e63bc00202
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:628688649ea04dc5ab6a44e63bc002022021-12-02T02:15:20ZPsychological distress and coping in military cadre candidates1178-2021https://doaj.org/article/628688649ea04dc5ab6a44e63bc002022016-08-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dovepress.com/psychological-distress-and-coping-in-military-cadre-candidates-peer-reviewed-article-NDThttps://doaj.org/toc/1178-2021Can Nakkas,1 Hubert Annen,1 Serge Brand2,3 1Department of Military Psychology Studies, Military Academy at ETH Zurich, Zurich, 2Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, 3Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland Background: Soldiers 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. Methods: A 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. Results: Recruits 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. Conclusion: Recruits 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. Keywords: military, training, stress, recruits, coping, leadershipNakkas CAnnen HBrSDove Medical PressarticlemilitarytrainingstressrecruitscopingleadershipNeurosciences. Biological psychiatry. NeuropsychiatryRC321-571Neurology. Diseases of the nervous systemRC346-429ENNeuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, Vol Volume 12, Pp 2237-2243 (2016)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	military training stress recruits coping leadership Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry RC321-571 Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system RC346-429
spellingShingle	military training stress recruits coping leadership Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry RC321-571 Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system RC346-429 Nakkas C Annen H Br S Psychological distress and coping in military cadre candidates
description	Can Nakkas,1 Hubert Annen,1 Serge Brand2,3 1Department of Military Psychology Studies, Military Academy at ETH Zurich, Zurich, 2Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, 3Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland Background: Soldiers 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. Methods: A 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. Results: Recruits 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. Conclusion: Recruits 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. Keywords: military, training, stress, recruits, coping, leadership
format	article
author	Nakkas C Annen H Br S
author_facet	Nakkas C Annen H Br S
author_sort	Nakkas C
title	Psychological distress and coping in military cadre candidates
title_short	Psychological distress and coping in military cadre candidates
title_full	Psychological distress and coping in military cadre candidates
title_fullStr	Psychological distress and coping in military cadre candidates
title_full_unstemmed	Psychological distress and coping in military cadre candidates
title_sort	psychological distress and coping in military cadre candidates
publisher	Dove Medical Press
publishDate	2016
url	https://doaj.org/article/628688649ea04dc5ab6a44e63bc00202
work_keys_str_mv	AT nakkasc psychologicaldistressandcopinginmilitarycadrecandidates AT annenh psychologicaldistressandcopinginmilitarycadrecandidates AT br psychologicaldistressandcopinginmilitarycadrecandidates AT s psychologicaldistressandcopinginmilitarycadrecandidates
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Psychological distress and coping in military cadre candidates

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