Abstract

RODRIGUEZ, F.J.  and  ARCE, R.. Soldiers deployed in international missions: stress perception and associated symptoms. Sanid. Mil. [online]. 2016, vol.72, n.1, pp.15-24. ISSN 1887-8571.

Introduction: Military deployments are one of the most demanding tasks for soldiers. A prospective study was designed in order to analyze the evolution of perceived stress and mental health in a sample of Spanish soldiers deployed in Afghanistan. Material and method: 935 soldiers answered the Spanish version of Perceived Stress Questionnaire and the SCL-90R in three different moments of the deployment (the first month, third month and last month). Results: Results show a steady increased perceived stress during deployment. Regarding to mental health, deployment increases all general distress symptoms. Distress reactions increased over time during the first half of deployment and peaked at around month 3, and then gradually returned to their initial levels by month 6, with the exception of hostility and somatization scales. Increases in war zone perceived stress over time were associated with increases in general distress symptoms. Conclusions: according to the results we conclude that the military population has a significantly lower perception of stress than general population. Participating in an international mission increases perceived stress, remaining constant throughout a six-month deployment. High levels of perceived stress are associated with increased psychological distress.

Keywords : Military deployments; Soldiers; Perceived stress; Mental health; Hostility; Somatization.

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