Hair Cortisol, Perceived Stress, and the Effect of Group Dynamics: A Longitudinal Study of Young Men during Compulsory Military Training in Lithuania

Previous research shows a nonlinear dependency between hair cortisol concentrations and perceived stress levels. This may be due to stress being targeted at the individual level despite it also being a social phenomenon which is often affected by group dynamics. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the influence of perceived stress on the hair cortisol level, considering the impact of the variables of group dynamics (interpersonal, task, and norm cohesion). Information was collected on 11 groups of, in total, 112 young men in three phases of time during their compulsory military training (covering nine months in total). The classification and regression tree (C&RT) method was used to predict hair cortisol concentrations in groups. The results show that the variability of the hair cortisol level in young men groups can be explained by perceived stress only when the groups were in formation process (47.7% normalised importance in Model 1) and when the groups were working on their final tasks (37.80% normalised importance in Model 3); meanwhile, the importance of perceived stress in explaining hair cortisol concentrations is low when the group is in a routine period of a group life-span (28.9% normalised importance in Model 2). Interpersonal cohesion (normalised importance 100% in Model 1 and 80.0% in Model 3) and task cohesion (normalised importance 78.6% in Model 2) were the most important predictors in the study area. These results point to the importance of the elements of group dynamics when it comes to explaining the nature of hair cortisol as accumulated stress biomarkers in young men.publishedVersio

Three-Faceted Approach to Perceived Stress: A Longitudinal Study of Stress Hormones, Personality, and Group Cohesion in the Real-Life Setting of Compulsory Basic Military Training

Compulsory basic military training is characterized not only by being challenging but also by being stressful. Assuming a high frequency of perceived stress events as a negative outcome of training, this article provides evidence on how the perceived frequency of stressful situations is affected by three types of factors: (i) biological stress response variables measured by hair steroid hormone levels, (ii) personality traits measured using the Big Five personality test, and (iii) group cohesion measures in military squads. A total of 112 conscripts in 11 squads participated in the research at the beginning (T1), in the middle (T2), and at the end (T3) of compulsory basic military training. Hair steroid hormone levels (cortisol, cortisone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)) levels were measured by liquid mass spectrometry; other data were collected using self-report questionnaires. The results of the Poisson regression analysis indicated that hair steroid hormone cortisol had a statistically significantly impact and could increase the perceived frequency of stressful situations by up to 1.317 (e0.275, T2) times. The concentrations of other hormones (cortisone = 1.157, e0.146, T3 and DHEA = 1.020, e0.020, T3) also had a statistically significant effect. Other factors had a decreasing effect on the frequency. Extraversion was significant with an effect of 0.907 (e−0.098, T2) and 0.847 (e−0.166, T3), while task cohesion had an effect of 0.946 (e−0.056) and norm cohesion of 0.954 (e−0.047). The research indicates that the three groups of factors affect the perceived frequency of stressful situations during compulsory basic military training, but their impacts are considerably different.publishedVersio

Perceived stress and hair cortisol levels amongst conscripts during basic military training: A repeated measures study

The aim was to examine hair cortisol levels and self-reported stress amongst conscripts during their basic military training, and how they are related to four types of theory-derived determinants. The following prediction was made: lower levels of perceived stress and hair cortisol will be associated with: (1) higher levels of emotional stability (the individual nonmilitary aspect); (2) a lower degree of private life problems (the contextual nonmilitary aspect); (3) more positive attitudes toward the military, higher engagement in military service, and higher adaptability to military conditions (the individual-military aspect); and (4) stronger group cohesion and better leadership (the contextual-military aspect). The sample consisted of a total of 107 male Lithuanian conscripts. Assessments were made at the beginning of their basic military training, in the middle, and at the end. Established instruments were used on all self-reported scales. Hair cortisol levels were established through analyses of hair samples. Low to moderate levels of stress were found throughout the basic training period regarding perceived stress levels. Hair cortisol levels were mainly unrelated to the self-rating scales. Regarding perceived stress, the prediction was fully confirmed. The future value of the theoretical model is discussed.publishedVersio

Female stress level and stress coping strategies in the armed forces of Lithuania

This study describes the results on stress level and stress coping strategies used by women - the personnel working in the Defence System of Lithuania. The research was based on two questionnaires. The results showed that the average stress level and the values of coping strategies are similar to other studies, but differ according to age and number of kids. This pilot study initialized the following research on military stress sources

Relationships between traumatic events, stress coping strategies and assessment of health status of peacekeepers

Tyrimo tikslas - nustatyti karių, dalyvavusių tarptautinėse operacijose, patirtų trauminių įvykių bei streso įveikos strategijų ir sveikatos vertinimo tarpusavio sąsajas. Tyrime dalyvavo 60 karių (amžiaus vidurkis 33,4) iš karių, vykstančių 6 mėnesiams į Tarptautinę operaciją (TO) Afganistano Goro provincijoje, kurie savanoriškai sutiko dalyvauti daugiafaktoriniame imuninės būklės tyrime. Buvo stebėti ir vertinti jų fizinės ir psichinės sveikatos pokyčiai streso įveikos atžvilgiu, kai tiriamieji patenka į trauminių įvykių pilną aplinką. Tiriamiesiems buvo 2 kartus (išvykstant ir grįžus) paimti seilių ir kraujo mėginiai biologiniams streso žymenims nustatyti, vykdytos apklausos streso įveikos bei dinamikos, psichologinių reakcijų į trauminius įvykius stiprumui įvertinti (SCL-90 ir PIES pagalba), atliktas sveikatos subjektyvus ir objektyvus vertinimas, registruoti sveikatos pokyčiai, analizuotos sąsajos tarp šių parametrų skirtingose pradinės įtampos ir trauminio įvykio streso grupėse. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad beveik du trečdaliai karių tyrimo pradžioje jautė vidutinę įtampą, kuri trauminio incidento metu dar labiau išaugo, po mėn. įtampa dar laikėsi 52,1 proc. karių, o grįžus iš TO po 6 mėn 68,6 proc karių neišgyveno jokios įtampos. Potrauminio streso sutrikimas išsivystė 1,8 proc. karių. Koreliacinė analizė atskleidė streso tarnybos pradžioje ryšį su stresu incidento metu ir trauminio poveikio skalės (PIES) rezultatais, o stresas po mėnesio buvo labiau susijęs su sužeistųjų matymu. Kariai dažniau naudojo į problemas orientuotą streso įveikos strategiją, nei mažiau adaptyvią į emocinę iškrovą nukreiptą strategiją. Didesnę įtampą patiriantys kariai dažniau naudojo emocinės iškrovos strategiją, nei nejaučiantys įtampos. Dažniau naudojančių emocinės iškrovos strategiją sveikatos vertinimo rodikliai, tiek subjektyvūs, tiek objektyvūs, buvo blogesni, nei rečiau naudojančių šią strategiją. Išvados. Į TO vykstančių karių trauminių įvykių stresas, subjektyviai suvokiamas kaip stipresnis, yra susijęs su blogesniu subjektyviu jų sveikatos vertinimu. Kariai dažniau naudoja į problemas orientuotą streso įveikos strategiją, nei emocinės iškrovos, kuri labiau susijusi su blogesniais subjektyviais ir objektyviais sveikatos rodikliais. Trauminių įvykių streso intensyvumą sąlygoja įtampa tarnybos TO pradžioje.The aim of work is to determine relationships between experienced traumatic events, used stress coping strategies and evaluation of subjective and objective status of health of soldiers taking part in peacekeeping operations. Data were collected from 60 soldiers (mean age 33,4 years) of peacekeepers deployed to serve in Afghanistan during 6 months, randomly voluntary selected for longitudinal multifactorial survey of imune and psychological status. Dynamic changes of their psychological and general health status were observed with respect to stress coping strategies during exposure to various traumatic events. For that purpose blood and saliva samples were taken 2 times - before and after the deployment for stress biomarkers MDA (TBARS) and imunoglobulins. Questionnaire for stress coping and stress dynamic changes, psychological reactions to traumatical events (SCL-90 and PIES) were used, subjective and objective assessment of health parameters was made, analyzing trends of health status during deployment in connection with the baseline stress. As data showed, two thirds of soldiers sufferd from stress feeling just at the initial moment of deployment, during the most traumatic event this number increased to 90, after 1 month high or middle tension was pointed for 52,1 perc. of soldiers. Returning home after deployment they showed lowest rate of tension – 68,6 percent of soldiers had no of stress feeling. Early acute posttraumatic stress disorder was detected only for 1 person (1,8 perc.). Correlation analysis revealed relationships between tension at predeployment and tension during traumatic event and results of traumatic event impact scale (PIES), and stress after 1 month was caused mostly by the seeing injured persons. Emotionally stress coping strategies were more often used in persons with higher tension during traumatic event though generraly stress coping toward problem solving strategy was mostly prefered by peacekeepers. The worsening of health status was connected with more often used emotionally stress coping strategies. Conclusion. Higher stress feeling was conected with worse health assesment. Soldiers prefer to use stress coping strategy toward problem solving more often than emotionally discharge strategies using of which during traumatic stress was related with worse health parameters.Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta

An impact effect of baseline stress on deployment traumatic stress level

Most of research studies focusing on deployment now are trying to determine not only the level of deployment stress, but are interested in relationship between experienced traumatic events, stress coping strategies during deployment and health status after soldiers are coming home. Our small study of peacekeepers was design to look at stress level of servicemen during different “end points “– before, during and after the deployment and to analyse possible risk factors for its changes after traumatic event. Dynamic changes of their psychological and general health status were observed with respect to frequently used stress coping strategies during exposure to various traumatic events during deployment and basic stress level at home before deployment. For that purpose, blood samples for stress biomarkers MDA (TBARS) were taken 2 times - before and after the deployment. The questionnaire for stress level dynamic changes, psychological reactions to traumatic events (SCL-90 and PIES) were used, as well as analysis of health status trends during deployment in relationship with the baseline stress. Data showed significant impact of baseline stress on traumatic stress level. Therefore, mental health strengthening programme before deployment by active resilience and stress coping training is strongly recommended

Education measures of the psychological support programme - the tool for suicide prevention in Lithuania armed forces

Lithuania is still among the leading countries with the highest number of suicides in the population. A retrospective analysis was carried out on manual data of military servicemen suicide cases in the Lithuanian Armed Forces during the period 2005-2015. Most of the cases were younger aged, lower rank soldiers. Right after each suicide act, the Psychological Support Programme was presented to the family members and colleagues as well as group meetings and educational lectures for leaders on the recognition of early suicidal signs. Moreover, the Department of Military Psychology established a goal of having a psychologist in every military region or bigger unit, in order to make psychological help more attainable. For this reason, the numbers of psychological consultations, counselling and seminars significantly increased. Finally, groups of psychotherapy in the churches announced by military chaplains as help for persons in bereavement started in two cities. We think that all of these efforts made an impact on rates of suicides decreasing from 4-5 per year to 0-2

Using Artificial Neural Networks in Predicting the Level of Stress among Military Conscripts

The present study aims to elucidate the main variables that increase the level of stress at the beginning of military conscription service using an artificial neural network (ANN)-based prediction model. Random sample data were obtained from one battalion of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and a survey was conducted to generate data for the training and testing of the ANN models. Using nonlinearity in stress research, numerous ANN structures were constructed and verified to limit the optimal number of neurons, hidden layers, and transfer functions. The highest accuracy was obtained by the multilayer perceptron neural network (MLPNN) with a 6-2-2 partition. A standardized rescaling method was used for covariates. For the activation function, the hyperbolic tangent was used with 20 units in one hidden layer as well as the back-propagation algorithm. The best ANN model was determined as the model that showed the smallest cross-entropy error, the correct classification rate, and the area under the ROC curve. These findings show, with high precision, that cohesion in a team and adaptation to military routines are two critical elements that have the greatest impact on the stress level of conscripts

Modelling Team Cohesion during Military Conscription: a Multidimensional Model for Task Cohesion

This research aims to predict conscripts’ task cohesion in groups using artificial neural network modelling (NNM). The prediction of task cohesion during military conscription lies on two domains of research. The first is related to team cohesion, its deconstruction, and its measurement, while the second is allied to nonlinear modelling in group behaviour research. To predict this multidimensional and complex phenomenon, the multilayer perceptron (MLP) and the radial basis function (RBF) neural networks are used. As a result, the team cohesion in conscript groups, which is a key variable in conscription service effectiveness, was predicted with high accuracy (MPL MOD2= 88% and RBF MOD8=90%) by the models created. The performed modeling shows that according to MPL MOD2 norm cohesion has 100% of normalized importance, while according to RBF MOD8, interpersonal cohesion is the best predictor (normalized importance=100%) for task cohesion in groups during conscription service

Conscripts psychological testing results' relationship with mental and physical health

Psichologijos katedraVytauto Didžiojo universiteta