Mental Health and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Personnel Depending on Participation in Active Combat Operations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29038/2220-7481-2024-02-39-51Keywords:
mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder, military, stress resilience, gender, age, military branch, combat conditions, assessmentAbstract
Topicality. The issue of stress-related conditions in military personnel arises due to high workloads, danger, and psychological stress during service. There is a need to develop and implement effective methods of physical and sports rehabilitation. The Aim of the Study is to investigate the symptoms of PTSD in military personnel actively participating in combat and to identify differences in military personnel of different ages and genders. Research Methods: this study includes literature analysis, comparison, surveys, systematization, and statistical analysis methods. These statistical methods include testing data for normal distribution (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test), descriptive statistics (central tendency and dispersion Me (25; 75) conv. units), chi-square group tests, and rank dispersion analysis. The Mississippi Scale has been used to assess the severity of post- traumatic stress reactions. Participants. The study involved 4403 military personnel, 89,9 % of whom were men. The research was conducted from February 27 to April 15, 2024. Results. The average PTSD score was 69 (54; 79) points, with PTSD symptoms identified in 20.3% of the military personnel, 0,4 % of whom required urgent care. The highest average PTSD scores were observed in military personnel aged 21–30 and over 50 years, while the lowest were for those aged 41–50 years. PTSD scores in men exceeded those in women, which is associated with a higher proportion of men participating in combat. The intensity of PTSD symptoms depends on military specialty and education level. The highest PTSD scores were recorded among junior and senior officers, and the lowest among senior sergeants. Military personnel with higher education showed higher PTSD scores. Statistically significant differences in PTSD scores have been found depending on gender, combat participation, military specialty, and education. No differences have been traced based on marital status, the presence of minor children, and military experience prior to the armed conflict. Conclusion. The study emphasizes the need for targeted approaches in the rehabilitation of military personnel with PTSD.
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