Correlates and consequences of morale versus depression under stressful conditions.

Abstract

The role of morale as a positive psychological construct distinct from the construct of depression was examined using data from a longitudinal study of 1,685 U.S. soldiers on a peacekeeping mission to Kosovo. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed morale was best predicted by indices of engagement in meaningful work and confidence in unit functioning and leadership, whereas depression was best predicted by deployment stressors and negative events. Morale assessed during the deployment was related to perceiving benefits from deploying six months later, whereas depression was related to posttraumatic stress disorder and negative perceptions of deploying. The relationship between morale and benefits was a function of engagement in meaningful work. Discussion focuses on the importance of longitudinal research in specifying the antecedents of positive and negative outcomes of a stressful work environment.

Rewarding and unrewarding aspects of deployment to Iraq and its association with psychological health in UK military personnel

“…However, perceptions of quality of leadership also diVered between the Services, and personnel in the RAF were more likely than Army personnel to perceive both senior and immediate leadership as unrewarding aspects of Service. It is not clear why this diVerence should occur, but discontent with leaders may reXect diVerences in perceptions of how meaningful the work is (Britt et al 2007). …”

“…post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression; Hoge et al 2006;Smith et al 2007), but they are also associated with greater perceived positive eVects such as personal growth and increased resilience (Elder and Clipp 1989;Schok et al 2008). Research on the impact of military trauma suggests that positive and negative eVects from stressful events are separate constructs that are largely independent from each other (Britt et al 2007;Fontana and Rosenheck 1998). Research on positive and negative appraisals of military service and deployment indicates that part of the association between traumatic experiences and PTSD is mediated through these appraisals (Fontana and Rosenheck 1998;Spiro et al 1997).…”

Construct Dimensionality of Engagement and its Relation With Satisfaction

“…Because of the inconsistencies in research findings regarding the factor structure and dimensionality of engagement (Britt, Dickinson, Greene, et al, 2007;Hallberg & Schaufeli, 2006), other researchers' view of engagement as a single factor (Britt, Dickinson, Moore, et al, 2007;Hallberg & Schaufeli) and the overlap with job satisfaction, more research is needed. In the present article, we first look at the factor structure of engagement and degree to which satisfaction is a separate construct from engagement, and how engagement and satisfaction predict student performance.…”

“…The psychological constructs of engagement and satisfaction at work are applicable to students in that students' jobs typically involve their schoolwork. Researchers have shown engagement to be a predictor of student performance (Schaufeli, Martinez, et al, 2002) and morale (Britt, Dickinson, Moore, Castro, & Adler, 2007). Assuming engagement and satisfaction are distinct constructs, researchers may expect engagement to uniquely predict outcomes (e.g., student performance) beyond other similar constructs.…”

Identifying Key Workplace Stressors Affecting Twentieth Air Force: Analyses Conducted from December 2012 Through February 2013

“…For example, one study examined soldiers' personal involvement in their work while deployed on a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (Britt et al, 2007). To assess the broader construct of engagement in meaningful work, the authors used four established scales to measure task significance (making a contribution to the mission; Bliese et al, 1998), military pride (sense of pride and accomplishment in the job; adapted from the Military Self-Esteem Scale, Marlowe et al, 1985;Vaitkus, 1994), job engagement (how much job performance matters to the soldier; Britt, Adler, and Bartone, 2001), and challenge at work (degree to which the job is seen as challenging and demanding of resources; Brown and Leigh, 1996).…”