Citation

Mazurek T, Nowosielski R. Pol. Merkuriusz Lek. 2014; 37(221): 280-284.

Vernacular Title

Wpływ słuzby wojskowej w Afganistanie na zdrowie psychiczne zołnierzy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, MEDPRESS - Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

25546989

Abstract

Many of the challenges they have to face the soldiers in Afghanistan acts as a specific stressors. They have been identified and defined during the past armed conflict. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: A preliminary analysis of the factors affecting the mental health of soldiers during their service in Afghanistan and determining ways to cope with stress by them, including the motivation to take medication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted under the conditions of the mission in Afghanistan and involved a group of 100 men aged 21-54 years (Wed 37.7 years). Analyses were based on questionnaires completed by soldiers twice in the conditions of the mission.

RESULTS: Studies show that 73.3% of men in the study group were directly exposed to the loss of life, 40% knew someone who was injured or killed, 60% were direct witnesses of the death or life-threatening injury. 25% of soldiers deployed in Afghanistan led fire on the enemy, 3.3% were perpetrators of the death of enemy combatants. Furthermore, only 2% of the soldiers who have experienced health problems and seemed aware of them, were interested in receiving help. It seems that this was due to fear of soldiers before them as the perception of the mentally ill, which might be considered prejudicial to their career.

CONCLUSIONS: The soldiers undergoing military service in Afghanistan are subject to the influence of multiple stressors of combat and operational, with a significant proportion of stressors carrying a direct threat to health and life. Stressors of the battlefield have modulatory effects on the process of adaptation by increasing the use of such coping styles that lead to developing a sense of security. Wrong attitudes and beliefs about the stress soldiers translate negatively to search for assistance and additional help in overcoming the effects of stress. Recognizing the impact of stressors and injuries resulting from the new course of the service can help to raise awareness of soldiers returning home, as well as families prepare for their return.

Language: pl