PSYCHOSOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF COMBAT AND OPERATIONAL STRESS

2012 ◽  
Vol 164 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-143
Author(s):  
Andrzej PIOTROWSKI

Almost 3% of the Polish Armed Forces is serving abroad. The service abroad is very much different from that in Poland and may result in many specific psychological, health and social costs. The article describes the evolution of opinions regarding war stress and presents the typical stress factors of soldiers, including those from the battlefield. The article is also a review of the results of Polish research regarding the psychological and health costs of military service under operational and battle conditions.

Author(s):  
Cherie Armour ◽  
Eric Spikol ◽  
Emily McGlinchey ◽  
Rachael Gribble ◽  
Nicola T. Fear ◽  
...  

LAY SUMMARY Military service can affect the psychological health and well-being of ex-service members and their families. Most research prioritizes active duty families or Veterans, with spouses/intimate partners and adult children of Veterans often overlooked. This study reviewed all previous research on the psychological health of Veteran families within the Five Eyes alliance countries of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It found spouses/intimate partners had higher rates of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to national rates and were more likely to feel distress when their Veteran partner had mental health issues. Adult children were at higher risk for anxiety, depression, alcohol/substance misuse, and PTSD compared to national rates. Four themes identified were: personal feelings and internal emotions, Veteran-oriented, help and support, and acting as a unit. Due to the scarce available research, further studies are needed to address psychological outcomes among military Veteran families.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie E. Davis ◽  
Sarah E. Minnis

The Problem Military veterans face a number of employment challenges as they transition from military service to civilian employment. Although the American workforce has become much more diverse, there continues to be a lack of understanding and misperceptions about veterans’ skillsets and military experiences which inhibits successful employment after military service. Veterans are a source of talent for civilian employers as they bring distinctive capabilities and valuable skills developed through real-world, high-pressure experience, but some human resource development (HRD) practitioners may not be aware of the vast array of skills, training, and knowledge that veterans bring to the civilian workforce in addition to supervisory and management skills acquired during their time in the armed forces. Given the civilian public’s general lack of knowledge about military experience, HRD practitioners, in particular, may be less able to effectively evaluate and integrate veterans’ military experiences, skills, and capabilities in the civilian employment sector. These misunderstandings are contributing factors impacting veterans’ ability to transfer their skills from military to business cultures. The Solution It is imperative that HRD practitioners understand the potentially strong contributions and societal misperceptions regarding the business value of military veterans’ skills and experiences. This article will explore distinctive capabilities of veterans that make them assets in the civilian workforce as well as some potential concerns and highlight HRD’s role in recognizing and facilitating the development of veteran hiring and retention initiatives in civilian employment. Educating HRD professionals about how to integrate military veterans’ skills, knowledge, and abilities in business cultures and mitigate concerns is vital to promote veterans’ contributions to civilian organizations and is necessary for effective hiring and talent development. The Stakeholders Veterans, HRD professionals, scholars, practitioners, and policy makers interested in the HRD field, private sector, federal, nonfederal public sector, and U.S. Office of Personnel Management.


Author(s):  
Sergey Aleksandrovich Kuzmin ◽  
Lyubov Kuzminichna Grigorieva ◽  
Kargla Amanzhulovna Izbagambetova

In the context of the reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the issues of recruiting troops with healthy, physically developed and mentally stable young conscripts are of paramount importance. Only citizens "A" - fit for military service and "B" fit for military service with minor restrictions are subject to conscription. When analyzing the results of medical examination of persons of military age, it was found that over the studied period of time, fitness for military service for health reasons decreased by 3.8% (from 78.3% in 2016 to 74.5% in 2020). However, despite the general decrease in fitness for military service, there is an increase in the fitness for military service "A" by 13.5% (from 23.4% in 2016 to 36.9% in 2020). Every year, during the period of work of the draft commissions, a significant number of citizens (more than 10%) were sent for additional examination to medical organizations. As a rule, the examination of conscripts was carried out on an outpatient basis (up to 85%) and much less often in an inpatient setting (up to 15%). The first place was occupied by diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, which accounted for 24.9%. Mental and behavioral disorders ranked second with an indicator of 18.7%. The third place was taken by diseases of the circulatory system - 14.9%. Diseases of the eye and adnexa ranked fourth - 8.2%. Diseases of the digestive system were less common, accounting for only 4.5%. Thus, in total, the listed diseases accounted for 71.2% and were the main ones in determining the fitness of conscripts for military service for health reasons.


Author(s):  
Sergey Aleksandrovich Kuzmin ◽  
◽  
Lyubov Kuzminichna Grigorieva ◽  
Margarita Vadimovna Mirzaeva ◽  
◽  
...  

In the context of the reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and a significant increase in the proportion of military personnel doing military service under contract, the issues of manning the troops with healthy, physically developed citizens with high moral and business qualities are of paramount importance. Of particular importance in the selection of candidates for military service under the contract is the conduct of laboratory and instrumental studies, professional and psychological selection, determination of the level of citizens’ physical fitness. The Federal Law «On Military Duty and Military Service» defines a two-stage system for medical examination of citizens entering military service under contract, which is necessary as a barrier in order to prevent citizenswho do not meet the necessary requirements for military personnel from entering the Russian Armed Forces. At the first stage (preliminary examination), the military and medical examination of citizens was carried out by specialist doctors working in medical organizations of the outpatient-polyclinic link of municipalities at the place of citizens’ permanent residence. Medical specialists of the regular military medical commission of the military commissariat of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation participated in the second stage (final examination) of the military medical examination. During the five-year period under study, 5,133 citizens (72.9 %) were selected out of 7,043 candidates for military service under contract, who fully met all the criteria for defenders of the Fatherland.


2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Johnson ◽  
Christopher T. Dawes ◽  
Matt McGue ◽  
William G. Iacono

Previous research has reported correlations between the military service records of parents and their children. Those studies, however, have not determined whether a parent’s military service causally influences an offspring’s participation in the armed forces. To investigate the possibility of a causal relationship, we examined whether lottery numbers issued to draft-eligible men during the U.S. Vietnam-era Selective Service Lotteries influenced the military participation of those men’s children. Our study found higher rates of military participation among children born to fathers whose randomly assigned numbers were called for induction. Furthermore, we perform statistical analyses indicating that the influence of lottery numbers on the subsequent generation’s military participation operated through the military service of draft-eligible men as opposed to mechanisms unrelated to service such as “draft dodging.” These findings provide evidence of a causal link between the military service of parents and their children.


2005 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-131
Author(s):  
Y. V. Tsvelev ◽  
V. G. Abashin ◽  
V. F. Bezhenar'

The reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (RF Armed Forces) in the current unfavorable demographic situation is accompanied by the involvement of a significant number of women in all types and branches of the armed forces in various positions associated mainly with the specialties of military humanitarian, medical, engineering, legal and other profiles.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Coppola ◽  
Nadia Rania ◽  
Rosa Parisi ◽  
Francesca Lagomarsino

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, people and families experienced a new and sudden situation that forced them to stay in their homes for a long period (February 25- May 26). In this context, many people found themselves in great difficulty, not only because of the fear of contagion or the economic problems deriving from the closure of production activities but also because the virus profoundly changed the way of life in society. The “Social distancing” concept became central in all personal relationships, including close family relationships. In this situation, our paper seeks to understand the role of spirituality and religiosity in reacting to this difficult situation and in particular on the physical and psychological health of the people involved. The data we present here are part of a multidisciplinary research with a quantitative theoretical framework. As the data was collected during the first Italian lockdown, a total of 1,250 adults from all over Italy participated in the on-line questionnaire. Among the main results it emerged that the participants perceived lower levels of spiritual well-being and mental health than the pre-pandemic situation with a significant gender difference; in fact, women perceived lower mental health than men. At the same time, it is evident that spirituality and religious practices are a protective factor connected not only with psychological and mental but also physical health. Finally, it appears evident that the family is a protective factor with respect to mental health, even in a period so full of stress factors, those who did not live alone and especially those who had to take care of small children reported higher perceived mental health and a greater ability to activate coping resources.


Author(s):  
V. K. Shamrei ◽  
K. V. Dnov ◽  
V. I. Evdokimov

Relevance. The level of suicides, according to several authors, is one of the most significant indicators of mental health in society, including in the armies of the world.Intention. To analyze suicides and their existing prevention system in the Russian Federation population and Armed Forces in 2007–2018.Methodology. Mental disorders and behavioral disorders (F00–F99 by Chapter V, the International Classification of Diseases of the 10th revision) were analyzed according to 3/MED Form in the military units, where ≥ 80 % of the military personnel served. The longterm trends of the main statistical indicators of suicides and mental disorders among military personnel compared to the Russian population have been established.Results and Discussion. In 2007–2018, the level of suicides in the Russian Armed Forces was (12.00 ± 1.35) per 100 thousand military personnel and was 1.7 times lower than in the population of Russia (20.12 ± 1.56) per 100 thousand (p < 0.001). The level of suicides seems to decrease among the military personnel of the Russian Armed Forces. When analyzing the longterm incidence of mental disorders and the level of suicides in the personnel of the Armed Forces of Russia, no significant correlation was found. At the same time, in a cohort of officers and ensigns, a statistically significant correlation was established between the level of suicides and the general incidence of the Chapter V diseases (r = 0.87; p < 0.01), including stressrelated neurotic and somatoform disorders (F40–F48; r = 0.72; p < 0.01), mental and behavioral disorders associated with the use of psychoactive substances (F10–F19; r = 0.89; p < 0.001). In the military conscripts, there was a correlation between the level of suicides and general morbidity related to Chapter V diseases (r = 0.72; p < 0.05), including personality and behavior disorders in adulthood (F60–F69; r = 0.81; p < 0.01) and organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders (F00– F09; r = 0.76; p < 0.05). It was revealed that among the officers and military personnel under the contract, family and domestic causes of suicide prevailed in contrast to the draft servicemen. Meanwhile somatic and mental diseases as a predominant cause of suicide accounted for a relatively small proportion.Conclusion. Psychoprophylactic measures should be aimed at early detection of servicemen prone to suicidal behavior, effective assistance in resolving militaryprofessional difficulties and domestic problems, as well as at improving their adaptation to military service. Special attention should be paid to the early detection of people with addictive disorders, especially alcohol abusers.


2019 ◽  
pp. 97-106
Author(s):  
Serhii Yaniuk

Experience of foreign countries demonstrates that approaches to the organization of territorial defense are based on theoretical foundations of state regulation. In the US, emphasis is placed on improving the Department of Defense’s contractual regulation of public good contentment with an actual product or service acquired by the government or the procurement process itself, with a prominent role for the private sector, to which the powers of the state (legal, economic, and public territorial defense state regulation mechanisms) are delegated. In the UK, emphasis is placed оn the territorial defense of overseas (remote) territories as important zones that require defense responsibility in terms of ensuring the security of the nation and its overseas territories, protecting their citizens and their way of life, which are the duties of the government (economic and social territorial defense state regulation mechanisms). The territorial defense of France depends on state jurisdiction and know-how, and the idea of «a spirit of protection» that is developed from school age (social, legal, information, public territorial defense state regulation mechanisms). The concept and system of territorial defense, based on military service and aimed at increasing the combat readiness of the mobilization forces, by which the government identifies potential candidates for professional armed forces in Finland (territorial defense state regulation mechanisms: political, organizational, legal, information, public, economic). For China, territorial defense is the protection of the homeland for which the frontier forces of public security (legal, social and organizational territorial defense state regulation mechanisms) have been created. Polish territorial defense is based on training, equipment, cooperation and interaction of territorial defense forces with third parties (legal, social, organizational, cultural, economic, informational, educational and propaganda territorial defense state regulation mechanisms). Implementation of the territorial defense state regulation mechanisms of foreign countries provides an opportunity to develop proposals for improvement of territorial defense state regulation mechanisms as a component of defense reform.


2021 ◽  
pp. oemed-2020-107050
Author(s):  
Howard Burdett ◽  
Nicola T Fear ◽  
Simon Wessely ◽  
Neil Greenberg ◽  
Roberto J Rona

ObjectivesWhile most UK military personnel transition successfully into civilian life, some experience unemployment and disability, which may be partly attributable to in-service factors. This study aims to determine the degree to which in-service mental health problems impact on postservice benefit claims.MethodsUsing data from a cohort of 5598 recent leavers from regular service in the UK Armed Forces linked with data from the Department for Work and Pensions, we assessed associations between in-service mental health and postservice benefit claims, and the population attributable fraction (PAF) of benefit claims related to in-service mental health. An analysis with postservice mental ill health as mediator was performed to determine the degree to which the observed effects were a consequence of persistent illness, as opposed to remitted.ResultsMental illness occurring in-service predicted both unemployment and disability claims, partly mediated by postservice health (23%–52% total effects mediated), but alcohol misuse did not. Common mental disorder (CMD) (PAF 0.07, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.11) and probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (PAF 0.05, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.09) contributed to unemployment claims. Probable PTSD was the largest contributor to disability claims (PAF 0.25, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.36), with a smaller contribution from CMD (PAF 0.16, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.27).ConclusionsIn-service mental ill health gives rise to benefit claims. These effects are only partly mediated by postservice mental health, implying that in-service (or pre-service) mental issues have carry-over effects into civilian life even if remitted. Better prevention and treatment of in-service PTSD symptoms may well reduce postservice disability claims.


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