Psychological features of professional health of military personnel with different experience of combat participation

Abstract

The article presents the results of a theoretical and empirical study of the psychological features of professional health of military personnel depending on their experience of combat participation. The relevance of the study is due to the high level of psycho-emotional load, stress factors, and risks of post-traumatic disorders characteristic of the military profession in modern conditions. The aim of the study is to identify the specifics of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components of professional health among military personnel with and without combat experience. The empirical study was conducted on a sample of 40 military personnel (23 persons with combat experience, 17 persons without such experience). A set of psychodiagnostic methods was used: Purpose in Life Test, Sensation Seeking Scale, Strategic Approach to Coping Scale (SACS), and an adapted method for assessing neuro-psychological stability. The results showed that military personnel with combat experience have significantly higher indicators of general life meaningfulness, purposefulness, locus of control – Self and Life, as well as a higher level of neuropsychological stability (p≤0.01). They more often choose active, prosocial coping strategies, while individuals without combat experience tend to choose passive, avoidant strategies. Significant differences were found on the scales "experience seeking" and "non-adaptive striving for difficulties" (p≤0.01). The behavioral component of professional health does not have statistically significant differences between the groups, except for the tendency to cautious actions. The obtained results allow substantiating the need for differentiated psychological programs for preserving the professional health of military personnel, taking into account their combat experience.