Military Psychology最新文献

This study examines the moderating role of occupational self-efficacy and psychological ownership on the nexus between authentic leadership and knowledge sharing behavior of military officers in Ghana. A sample of 382 respondents completed an online questionnaire, and the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and partial least squares structural equation modeling. The findings show that authentic leadership positively influences knowledge sharing behavior of security officers, while occupational self-efficacy and psychological ownership enhance the positive effects of authentic leadership on security officers' sharing behavior. The findings of the study suggest organizations, especially in the context of the military, should invest in developing the authentic leadership quality of officers, enhance their occupational self-efficacy and fostering a sense of psychological ownership among military officers to enhance their knowledge sharing capabilities.

Among military service members, the experience of never-deploying can create a negative affective state (i.e., "non-deployment emotions"; (NDE)) that increases stress and may contribute to higher rates of substance use among Reserve and National Guard soldiers. Little is known about how soldiers' negative NDE and substance use may affect the marital relationship of military couples. We examined the cross-spouse effects of male soldiers' negative NDE and alcohol and illicit drug use on female spouses' marital satisfaction, using cross-sectional data from never-deployed male soldiers and their female spouses (n = 94 couples; 188 participants). Negative binomial regression models tested the main effects of soldiers' negative NDE, alcohol use, and illicit drug use, separately, on their spouses' marital satisfaction, controlling for soldiers' depression, years of military service, and prior active-duty status, and spouses' depression and substance use. Interaction terms between NDE and alcohol use and illicit drug use were then added. In adjusted main effects models, only husbands' current illicit drug use was associated with wives' decreased marital satisfaction (RR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.96; p < .05). However, significant interaction models indicated that wives had lower marital satisfaction when their husbands had high levels of negative NDE and used alcohol or drugs. This suggests a synergistic effect; negative non-deployment emotions combined with higher substance use among soldiers may contribute to lower marital satisfaction among wives. Military organizations should consider ways to better support never-deployed soldiers, develop approaches to help mitigate feelings of reduced camaraderie or belonging, and explore ways to better support military couples.

Building on emerging literature, a new self-report inventory was developed to assess multiple psychological attributes relevant to adaptability in remote warriors. Literature search backed by surveys of military and psychological experts identified 32 attributes for self-report scale development. Items were sorted reliably into targeted dimensions (67.5% vs. 1.6% random) in support of content validity. Item analysis of responses from 255 U.S. Air Force remote operations Airmen (74.5% sensor operators) narrowed the set to 25 empirically distinct scales demonstrating overall strong internal consistency reliability (Mdn alpha = .83), unidimensionality per scale, convergent and discriminant validity in relations with the NEO Personality Inventory-3 (e.g. Stress Tolerance r = -.50 with NEO Neuroticism and r = .00 with NEO Openness), and criterion validity in relations with burnout (e.g., Coping Flexibility r = -.43 with Exhaustion) and psychological distress (e.g., Hardiness r = -.62). Results support the continued development of the measure for advancing understanding of the psychology of remote warfare and engagement in similarly demanding occupations.

As the Army continues to adapt to evolving mission demands and global threats, those who execute the mission - both soldiers and Department of the Army (DA) civilians - must also adapt to changing occupational demands and requirements. Occupational stress within the military community is a threat to health and wellbeing that impacts not only individual soldiers and civilian personnel, but also units, families, and the broader military community. Hardiness is an operational requirement for military success, spirituality might be a means to positively impact soldier and DA Civilian hardiness. This study sought to understand the relationship between spirituality and hardiness within the Army, which included data collected from U.S. Army soldiers (N = 313) and DA Civilians (N = 276). We hypothesized that increased individual spirituality have a direct relationship with the positive aspects of hardiness and an inverse relationship with the negative aspects of hardiness as defined by the dual process model of hardiness. Employing regression analysis, empirical support was found to support our hypotheses for relationships between spirituality and hardiness variables, with increased spirituality relating to increased positive hardiness and decreased negative hardiness traits. Military leaders can use that knowledge to develop and test targeted interventions that may help to increase positive hardiness and decrease negative hardiness in the Army. Further, Holistic Health and Fitness programming may benefit from improved psychological function by incorporating training that integrates hardiness and spirituality concepts.

Military veterans who became disabled due to conflict-related trauma face various challenges in finding and maintaining employment in civilian life. This study aims to understand the transition processes of disabled veterans in Turkey into civilian employment, as well as their experiences in maintaining and sustaining employment during this process. A qualitative research design was used in the study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 24 amputee veterans. The most commonly reported issues were placement in unsuitable jobs, lack of civilian work experience, differences between military and civilian cultures, and biases. Many veterans struggle to integrate into civilian work life.

Researchers have begun to explore factors that might promote better adjustment following exposure to traumatic events, including the extent to which individuals have a strong sense of meaning in their lives. Given that studies have shown the potential benefits of cultivating meaning in alleviating posttraumatic stress reactions, it is important to pinpoint specific aspects of meaning that may better inform individualized trauma-focused treatments. One aspect of meaning that may be particularly relevant to trauma survivors is reflected in perceptions of purpose in life. The current study explored concurrent associations among elements of purpose and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in a sample of 423 combat-deployed veterans through the lens of network analysis. We investigated the network structure of purpose and PTSS, as well as which aspects of purpose were negatively associated with PTSS, to identify their connections with resilience and recovery. Most notably, results revealed that having multiple reasons for living and a sense of importance and connection related to everyday pursuits were most strongly linked to lower PTSS. Specific aspects of purpose related to satisfaction and fulfillment were also linked to lower PTSS, though more modestly. Although these findings will need to be confirmed in longitudinal research, they suggest that attending to sense of purpose in veterans and other high-risk populations may facilitate treatment planning in service of fostering greater resiliency to the effects of trauma exposure.

Previously deployed mothers report higher levels of posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms than non-deployed mothers. However, the specific stressors encountered during deployment that account for elevated clinical symptoms are not well understood including the impact of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) in the context of other deployment-related stressors. This study examined whether MST during deployment, degree of combat exposure, and length of deployment will each be associated with posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms among previously deployed mothers. Participants included 113 mothers (86.6% White) who had previously been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan during the post 9/11 conflicts. Logistic regressions revealed that mothers who experienced MST during deployment were five times more likely to report clinically significant posttraumatic stress symptoms and two times more likely to report clinically significant depression symptoms. When controlling for MST, degree of combat exposure and length of deployment were not significantly associated with posttraumatic stress or depression symptoms. The present study fills an important gap in the literature and implicates MST as an important correlate of post-deployment functioning for military mothers. Findings from this study can be used to inform both prevention and intervention efforts.

A simulation was conducted to examine the decision making of 102 high-ranking police and military commanders (male/female = 88/12, mean years of employment = 22.15) engaged in a simulated hybrid attack on Norway. Four 2 × 3 repeated-measures ANOVA tests were performed, with two groups (police, military) and three phases (peace, war, and post-conflict) as independent variables. The decision tasks of force posture and mission urgency, along with Subject Matter Expert (SME) ratings of decision-making performance, served as dependent variables. By using social cognitive theory as the theoretical framework, the analysis demonstrated within-group effects indicating how the transition from peace to war caused more offensive postures, higher urgency levels, and increased performance in wartime. Between-group differences were also found, illustrating that police commanders had higher levels of urgency than military commanders in general. Regarding force posture, within-group differences were only found in the post-conflict phase, when police commanders returned to pre-war levels, while military commanders showed less offensive postures than in peacetime. No significant between-group differences were found in decision-making performance. The analysis demonstrated new empirical findings about how crisis management is impacted by change and the backgrounds of those in charge. The findings have implications for designing interagency frameworks that improve police-military interoperability in collaborative efforts.

Defense and Security Personnel (DSP) often have to operate in the presence of stressful demands. Prior research has identified factors and processes associated with DSP being able to perform resiliently in demanding situations and settings. The aim of the present study was to develop a resilient performance training programme for UK defense and security operators. An intervention mapping (IM) method was used to guide the development of the programme. Typically, IM follows six sequential phases. In the present work, these phases were shaped by insights from prior research (e.g. systematic review and end user interviews), the input of a dedicated working group (N = 13) and from practitioner focus groups. During the IM process, the importance of programme flexibility was emphasized by practitioners. As such, the enAbling REsilieNt performAnce (ARENA) training programme was designed to be agile and include both face-to-face training and online learning modules. Theoretical behavior change principles, closely aligned to findings of earlier work on resilient defense and security performance, were used to underpin programme content and delivery. Future research should seek to gather data on the impact of the ARENA programme, in the targeted biological, psychological and social factors that previously been associated with resilient performances.

America has experienced a rapid increase in loneliness, substance use, and suicidality. This increase is particularly deleterious for Veterans, who, as compared to nonmilitary-connected civilians, experience elevated rates of loneliness, substance use, and suicidality. In this project we investigated the link between loneliness, substance use, and suicidality, paying particular attention to the mediational role of loneliness between substance use and suicidality. 1,469 Veterans (male, n = 1004, 67.2%; female, n = 457, 32.3%; transgender/non-binary/prefer not to say, n = 8, 0.5%) answered online surveys in the Mental Health and Well-Being Project. Items assessed participants on psychosocial antecedents of health and wellness. Pearson correlations and mediational models were used to determine if loneliness, substance use, and suicidality were related and if loneliness mediated the link between substance use and suicidality. Results indicated that loneliness, substance use, and suicidality were significantly and positively related (rs = .33-.42, ps < .01). Additionally, loneliness partially mediated the link between substance use and suicidality (β = .08 [.06-.10]), suggesting that, within the context of substance use in Veterans, loneliness may account for significant variance in suicidality. Together findings suggest the Veterans Health Administration should support, fund, and study community engagement activities that could reduce the development or intensity of substance use, loneliness, and suicidality in Veterans.