Influence of stress factors on the psycho-emotional state of military personnel

The aim of the study was to investigate the levels of traumatic stress, anxiety and depression, and the impact of stress factors on the psycho-emotional state of military personnel, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive psychocorrectional programme. The study was conducted on a sample of 50 assault troops, divided into an experimental group (25 individuals) and a control group (25 individuals). A repeated-measures experimental design was employed. The psychocorrection programme, which consisted of eight group training sessions (90 minutes each), was based on the systemic approach developed by I. Kotenev. The instruments used included I. Kotenev’s “Traumatic Stress Questionnaire, the “Short AD-PTSD Scale” and the “Stress Factors” method. The results confirmed the high effectiveness of the programme: according to the “Short AD-PTSD Scale”, in the experimental group the level of anxiety decreased by 42.9% (from 14.2 to 8.1 points), the level of depression decreased by 40.8% (from 12.5 to 7.4 points), and PTSD symptoms decreased by 42.3% (from 16.8 to 9.7 points). The total average score of affirmative responses indicating the presence of disturbances decreased from 5.28 to 1.78, which moved the majority of servicemen out of the risk zone. The overall level of stress load, determined using the “Stress Factors” method, decreased by almost 30% (from 4.16 to 2.98 points). The most noticeable reduction in psycho-emotional tension was recorded in the areas of personal-psychological and emotional-physiological reactions (a decrease of 33.3% and 31.9% respectively). Positive changes were also observed in internal resources: the subjective feeling of calmness and inner balance increased by 78.5%, social cohesion increased by 36.6%, and self-control improved by 31.0%. After completion of the programme, 82% of participants reported an improvement in sleep quality, and 76% reported increased concentration of attention. In the control group, which did not receive the intervention, no significant positive changes were observed. This demonstrates that natural adaptation is insufficient to overcome the consequences of combat stress. The programme significantly increases the adaptability of military personnel, stabilises their emotional state, and may be integrated into psychoprophylactic programmes within units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine