A study of depression in military personnel

Nyamjav Baasandorj, Delgerjav Munkhnasan

Corresponding Author: Delgerjav Munkhnasan

National University of Mongolia, Mongolia

Email: delgerjav@num.edu.mn

Digital Object Identifier: 

https://doi.org/10.53468/mifyr.2024.04.01.63

Abstract- Recently, as the media has broadcast information about crimes committed by military personnel, society’s negative opinion about military personnel continues to attract public attention. The majority of temporary military personnel are between the ages of 18 and 25 and may exhibit emotional immaturity, leading to various psychological issues. Hence, most do not volunteer for military `service. In light of this situation, military psychologists are confronted with the need to study depression, fear, and anxiety among servicemen, as they continue to commit criminal acts such as desertion, misuse of weapons and firearms, and incidents of self-harm or harm to others. In this study, we administered a survey to servicemen who have recently enlisted and proceeded to analyze the correlation between depression and the adjustment to military life among active-duty military personnel. The study reports that 59 percent of the participants were free of depression, 9 percent exhibited moderate depression, and 15 percent displayed severe depression. According to the adaptability survey, 27 percent of temporary military personnel performed very well, 50 percent performed averagely, 17 percent performed poorly, and 6 percent performed very poorly. The indicators from the study participants suggest that they are not well adapted to military life, likely due to the transition into a social environment that diverges from their ordinary experiences, leading to psychological restlessness during training. The results indicate a direct relationship between depression and adaptability, demonstrating that lower levels of depression have a lesser impact on adaptation. This study identified a direct relationship between conscripts’ depression and their adaptation to military life. Furthermore, depression emerged as the primary determinant in classifying soldiers based on their level of adjustment. The study’s results highlight the significant role of depression in the psychological domain, with issues in this area underlying maladjustment. Soldiers who experience lower levels of depression tend to exhibit higher levels of self-confidence, interest in service, pride in themselves and their service, and better stress management abilities. This suggests that depression significantly influences military life and its potential to cause harm.

Keywords: Depression, adaptability, Military life, Active-duty military Personnel

Article History: Received 02 March 2024, Received in revised form 06 March 2024, Accepted 30 March 2024