Military Science and Tactics

Military Science and Tactics

Military hierarchy, job stress and mental health in peacetime

Authors
nabiollah kohan
zahra jahani yalme
Abstract
Most studies of mental health in the armed forces focus primarily on posttraumatic
stress disorders among military personnel in combat situations. Toevaluate the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) and job stress, andthe association between the two, among military personnel in peacetime.
Additionally, it sought to identify occupational subgroups with higherprevalence of CMD. The study participants were 506 military personnel from a
Brazilian army directorate in Rio de Janeiro City. CMD were evaluated usingthe 12-item version General Health Questionnaire. Job characteristics weremeasured using the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model and by categories ofmilitary rank. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were estimated by Poisson regression toobtain robust (95%) confidence intervals (CIs).The prevalence of CMD was33% (95% CI 29–37). After adjusting for age, education, income, life- style andother occupational characteristics, ERI was associated with CMD (PR 5 2.03;95% CI 1.3– 3.1). Over commitment proved to be an important component ofjob stress. Independently of socio- economic, demographic, lifestyle and jobstress variables, the rank of lieutenant associated strongly with CMD (PR 52.02; 95% CI 1.2–4 0.1).This study found that job stress among armed forcespersonnel is associated with CMD. In addition, the specific occupationalcharacteristics of the military environment can lead to a higher prevalence ofCMD among those holding the rank of lieutenant.
Keywords
Effort-reward imbalance model
Job stress
Military Personnel
mental health
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