Military Psychology最新文献

Stress occurs when conditions burden or exceed an individual's adaptive resources. Military personnel are often tasked with maintaining peak performance under such stressful conditions. Importantly, the effects of stress are nuanced and may vary as a function of individual traits and states. Recent interdisciplinary research has sought to model and identify such relationships. In two previously reported efforts, Soldiers first completed a comprehensive battery of trait assessments across four general domains thought to be predictive of performance: cognitive, health, physical, and social-emotional, and then completed the Decision-Making under Uncertainty and Stress (DeMUS) virtual reality task that probed spatial cognition, memory, and decision-making under stress and variable uncertainty. The present analysis explores whether cognitive, health, physical, and social-emotional trait assessments, as well as physiological state measures, predict or modulate DeMUS performance outcomes under stress. Multiple regression analyses examined the effect of each trait predictor and stress responsiveness on quantitative task performance outcomes. Results revealed that one measure of state stress reactivity, salivary cortisol, predicted lower recognition memory sensitivity. Further, trait measures of healthy eating, agility, flexibility, cognitive updating, and positive emotion predicted enhanced spatial orienting and decision-making performance and confidence. Together, the results suggest that select individual states and traits may predict cognition under stress. Future research should expand to ecologically relevant military stressors during training and operations.

Mental health officers (MHO) in the military often encounter soldiers expressing distress, manifested in threats and attempts at self-harm and suicide. While these behaviors are a significant stressor for therapists, they may also be an opportunity for posttraumatic growth (PTG). We aimed to examine whether the relatively frequent exposure of MHO to soldiers who report thoughts, intentions, and attempts at self-harm and suicide is related to their PTG, as well as tested the contribution of cognitive variables (the centrality of the event and the challenge to core beliefs), and a trait not previously considered in this context, i.e. self-compassion to PTG. Self-report questionnaires were completed by130 Israeli army MHO. Of these, 98.5% reported that they are exposed to self-harm. The questionnaires were collected between the years 2020-2021. The findings show a positive linear relationship, as well as a curvilinear relationship, between PTG and exposure to expressions of self-harm and suicide, the centrality of the event, and the challenge to core beliefs. In addition, self-compassion served as a moderator in the association between exposure and PTG. The study validates the PTG model in a population that has not previously been studied in this context, and may lead to a broader understanding of PTG in this context. They may help in designing dedicated training programs for therapists dealing with reports of self-harm and suicidal behavior.

Prior research has established the psychometric properties of the Critical Warzone Experiences (CWE) scale among post-9/11 Iraq/Afghanistan-era veterans; however, the psychometric properties of the CWE among Gulf War I-era veterans have not yet been established. The first objective of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the CWE among Gulf War I-era veterans. The second objective was to test the hypothesis that the CWE would have a significant indirect effect on suicidal thoughts and behaviors via posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms. To test these hypotheses, a survey packet that included the CWE and measures of PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors was administered to 1,153 Gulf War I-era veterans. Consistent with prior research in post-9/11 Iraq/Afghanistan-era veterans, the CWE exhibited good internal consistency (α = .85), a unidimensional factor structure (RMSEA = .056, CFI = .959, SRMR = .033; average factor loading = .69), and good concurrent validity with PTSD (r = .47, p < .001) and depressive (r = .31, p < .001) symptoms among Gulf War I-era veterans. Additionally, as hypothesized, a significant indirect effect from the CWE to suicidal thoughts and behaviors via PTSD and depressive symptoms (β = .35, p < .001) was also observed. Taken together, our findings provide strong support for using the CWE with Gulf War I-era veterans.

Providing safety is a key function for leaders for those under their command in a military context, and research to date has focused on various aspects of leaders' personalities and leadership styles to investigate the outcomes for their followers. The present research aims to complement this view by adopting a follower-centric approach and exploring the individual and team-level effects of attachment and psychological safety. Drawing on attachment theory, we developed and tested a model that explicates how employees' attachment projections are mediated by psychological safety to influence adaptive behaviors and team performance positively. We collected multi-source survey data from a Navy department to test our model. Our findings suggest that attachment to leaders can indirectly enhance adaptive behaviors through individual psychological safety. This research underscores the critical role of attachment dynamics and resulting safety perceptions in shaping adaptive behaviors among military personnel, emphasizing their significance as social resources.

Military sexual trauma (MST) and combat trauma (CT) survivors experience disproportionate risk for disordered eating. A survey of MST, CT, disordered eating, trauma-related self-blame, emotion regulation challenges, body dissatisfaction, and dissociation among military personnel with a history of military-related trauma was conducted. These survey-based cross-sectional data were analyzed via parallel mediation analyses and Analyses of Covariance (ANCOVA). Six parallel mediation analyses were conducted examining trauma-related self-blame, emotion regulation challenges, body dissatisfaction, and dissociation as mediators linking MST and CT, separately, with purging, restricting, and bingeing. ANCOVAs were also performed to examine differences in levels of bingeing, restriction, and purging among people exposed to MST, CT, both MST and CT, and neither. MST and CT exposure was indirectly related to bingeing via emotion regulation challenges. MST and CT was also indirectly related to both restriction and purging via emotion regulation challenges and trauma-related self-blame. Dissociation and body dissatisfaction were not significant mediators in any model. Participants endorsed high levels of disordered eating. Individuals exposed to both MST and CT reported greater bingeing, restricting, and purging than individuals exposed to either CT, MST, or neither. Findings highlight the nuanced symptoms that may increase risk for disordered eating among MST and/or CT survivors. Future treatment research should explore how addressing emotion regulation and trauma-related self-blame among individuals with MST and/or CT may help address disordered eating. Implications and future directions for this area of research are discussed.

Like all job applicants, veterans have to face the ubiquitous employment interview and pass this potential hurdle to civilian sector employment. So, because of the uniqueness of transitioning from the military to civilian employment, the present paper sought to identify perceived interviewing strengths and weaknesses of veteran interviewees from (a) the perspective of civilian sector human resource professionals (i.e. hiring personnel) with experience interviewing veterans (Study 1, five focus groups, N = 14), and (b) veterans (Study 2, N = 93). Qualitative analysis of the focus group transcripts resulted in the emergence of two theme categories: (1) veteran interviewee strengths and (2) veteran interviewee weaknesses. This information guided the development of a 10-item survey that was completed by 93 veterans (Study 2). In its totality, the results (from both Study 1 and Study 2) indicated that communication of soft skills, confidence, and professionalism were perceived to be strengths that veterans displayed during civilian employment interviews, and conversely, the ineffective translation and communication of relevant technical skills acquired in the military, use of military jargon, and nervousness were considered to be weaknesses. Recommendations to capitalize on the strengths and mitigate the weaknesses are presented.

Given the obligatory nature of physical fitness training in the military and in order to guide intervention development, our study assessed possible motivational determinants as suggested by self-determination theory in addition to other possible determinants. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 218 military recruits during their basic training in Jordan. Physical activity and lifestyle behaviors were measured using the Arab Teens Lifestyle Study (ATLS). Psychosocial variables were assessed using the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESE), Behavioral Regulation Exercise Scale (BREQ-2) and Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS). Bivariate correlation analysis revealed that identified self-regulation, introjected regulation and exercise self-efficacy scores were positively associated with higher Metabolic Equivalent of Task (METs) and minutes per week of physical activity among male recruits and the overall sample respectively. Among females, only external regulation was positively associated with the total METs/week. Being a male was significantly associated with higher minutes of physical activity among the overall sample. Multivariate regression analyses showed that identified regulation was significantly and positively associated with higher minutes of physical activity among the overall sample and male recruits in addition to higher METs per week among the male recruits. Also, the amotivation score was significantly and positively associated with higher minutes of physical activity among the overall sample and male recruits. A multivariate regression analysis for female recruits showed no significant associations. Intervention developers are advised to increase autonomous forms of motivation through structured enjoyable physical fitness programs in order to enhance intrinsic motivation in the long term.

The Master Resilience Training (MRT) course is the U.S. Army's resilience program of record to develop soldiers as resilience trainers within their home units. The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) recently conducted an MRT Quality Improvement Evaluation (QIE) to understand perceptions of the MRT course, determine the effectiveness of the course, and provide revision recommendations for the next iteration of the course. Soldiers who were completing the MRT course were invited to take surveys and participate in interviews. Results from quantitative and qualitative data suggest that most participants felt satisfied with the training and that it was relevant for soldiers. Most participants also agreed that the training would help them become better soldiers and leaders. Along with positive feedback about the course, participants also identified areas that could be improved. Soldier feedback along with program evaluators' observation informed recommendations for improving the overall MRT course and its implementation. Program evaluators recommend MRT participants learn fewer and less complex skills, focus on coach education throughout the course, and highlight leader development by promoting motivation and enhancing effective communication. Program evaluators recommendations for ways to improve buy-in from leaders and graduated MRTs are also discussed.

Exposure-based treatments such as prolonged exposure therapy (PE) are effective for veterans with PTSD. However, dropout rates as high as 50% are common. The Department of Veterans Affairs employs peers to increase mental health treatment engagement, however peers are not routinely used to help patients complete PE homework assignments. The present study included 109 veterans who decided to drop out from exposure-based treatment after completing seven or fewer sessions and used a randomized controlled design to compare PE treatment completion rates in response to 2 forms of peer support: (1) standard weekly telephone-based peer support vs. (2) peer-assisted in vivo exposure, wherein peers accompanied veterans (virtually or in person) during a limited number of in vivo exposure assignments. There were no differences between instrumental vs general peer support conditions as randomized. However, post hoc analyses indicated that 87% of those who completed at least one peer-assisted in vivo exposure completed treatment, compared to 56% of those not completing any peer-assisted in vivo exposure. The dose effect of peer-assisted in vivo exposure increased to 93% with 2 or more peer-assisted exposures, and 97% with 3 or more peer-assisted exposures. The present study suggests that augmenting PE with instrumental peer support during in vivo exposure homework may reduce dropout if completed. Future research should test whether the impact of peer-assisted in vivo exposure is enhanced when offered at the beginning of treatment as opposed to waiting until the point of dropout.

Family members' perceptions of challenges associated with military life can spillover to their relationships with one another and, in turn, inform service members' beliefs of how their work impacts family life. The current study examined connections between active-duty fathers', civilian mothers', and adolescents' perceptions of military-related stress, adolescents' perceptions of quality of family relationships (i.e. parent-adolescent relationships), and service members' perceived work-family impact (specifically work-related guilt and work-related enrichment). To examine these associations, a path analysis with secondary cross-sectional data was estimated using data from 228 Army families (each with an active-duty father, civilian mother, and adolescent offspring). The findings suggested that service members' perceptions of military-related stress and adolescents' relationship quality with both parents were related to service members' work-family impact, specifically work-related enrichment. Such associations highlight the importance of high-quality parent-adolescent relationships for active-duty fathers' work-family impact, which has implications for military families but, more broadly, for service members' readiness and retention.