Stress and Psychological Well-Being in Military Gendarmes

Abstract

Most studies consider the stressors faced by military personnel during operations in war zones and less those in peacetime activities. Work-related stress is a significant determinant of psychological well-being, but more relevant are the nature of stressors that military personnel is facing and the factors than can explain the relationship between work stress and well-being. The purpose of the present study was twofold: to examine the longitudinal relationships between organizational stress (OrgS), operational stress (OpS), and psychological well-being (PWB), and the mediating role of social support and coping mechanisms in the peacetime activities of police military gendarmes. A convenience sample of 210 military gendarmes (96.1% men and 3.90% women) completed five self-report scales regarding OrgS, OpS, PWB, social support, and coping mechanisms. All the variables were measured twice, in December 2021 (T1) and four months later in April 2022 (T2). The mean age was 38.52 years and the mean duration of military service was 14.52 years. The results show that baseline perceived stress, organizational and operational, has a significantly negative effect on PWB after four months. Perceived social support (at both T1 and T2) has a significant mediating role in the relationship between OrgS and PWB, as well as in the relationship between OpS and PWB. Among the coping mechanisms, only self-control (at T2) acts as a significant mediator of the relationship between OrgS and PWB. These findings could contribute to the development of intervention programs to increase the PWB of this personnel category, by working not only on perceived OrgS and OpS, but also on perceived social support and coping mechanisms.