Comparing the mental health and self-efficacy of soldiers with extra duty and soldiers without extra duty in an Iranian military center
Paper Details
Comparing the mental health and self-efficacy of soldiers with extra duty and soldiers without extra duty in an Iranian military center
Abstract
Mental health and self-efficacy are among the factors and variables that play an important role in maintaining the health and efficacy of the military forces. This study was conducted in an Iranian military center in 2015 aiming at comparing the self-efficacy and mental health of soldiers with extra duty and soldiers without extra duty. This is a descriptive research with causal-comparative design. The desired sample size consisted of 50 soldiers with extra duty and 50 soldiers without extra duty selected by multistage random sampling method. The data collection tool included Symptom checklist- 90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and general self-efficacy questionnaire with 17 questions prepared. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. The results showed a significant difference between the two groups of soldiers in all subscales of mental health and self-efficacy (P <0.05). These results also indicated that soldiers with extra duty had lower mental health and self-efficacy than those without extra duty. Accordingly, it can be concluded that the enforcement of extra duty law, resulting in a longer period of military service, on Iranian soldiers, can negatively affect the mental health and self-efficacy of such soldiers.
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Vahid Donyavi, Rasoul Soleimani Najafabadi, Arsia Taghva, Amir Mohsen Rahnejat (2015), Comparing the mental health and self-efficacy of soldiers with extra duty and soldiers without extra duty in an Iranian military center; JBES, V6, N4, April, P482-490
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