PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS OF STRESS RESILIENCE IN MILITARY PERSONNEL

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of psychological factors that determine the level of stress resilience in military personnel. Stress resilience is considered a key component of psychological health and combat effectiveness, particularly under conditions of armed conflict where servicemen are constantly exposed to high-intensity stressors. The paper highlights the relevance of this issue in the context of the war in Ukraine, where psychological stability not only ensures operational effectiveness but also helps prevent the development of post-traumatic disorders, burnout, and other mental health problems among the military.
The theoretical background integrates classical and modern approaches: the stress concept introduced by H. Selye (General Adaptation Syndrome), the cognitive-motivational theory of R. Lazarus, and the concept of hardiness by S. Maddi. Psychological resilience is analyzed through several interrelated dimensions: hardiness (commitment, control, challenge), self-esteem and self-confidence, adaptive coping strategies, motivation, social support, and the integration of personal values.
The empirical part of the study involved 30 male servicemen aged 24–53 years undergoing rehabilitation. The methodology included the Stress Resilience Scale (S.D. Maksymenko, L.M. Karamushka, T. Zaychikova, 2006) and the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI) (D. Amirkhan, 1990; adapted by M. Sirota and V. Yaltonsky). Mathematical-statistical analysis was conducted using Spearman’s rank correlation. Results show that most respondents demonstrated an average level of stress resilience (60%), with 26.7% showing high resilience and 13.3% low resilience. Problem-focused coping positively correlated with resilience (ρ = - 0.431, p < 0.05), while avoidance strategies showed a weak negative tendency, and social support strategies had no significant correlation.
The findings underline that the most effective strategy for maintaining resilience is active problem-solving, reflecting the mobilization of internal resources and constructive coping behavior. Practical significance lies in the confirmation of the need to develop servicemen’s psychological resilience through training programs aimed at strengthening adaptive coping, enhancing hardiness, fostering motivation, and building supportive social environments. These measures are essential for sustaining mental health and combat readiness in extreme conditions.