Impact of personality on cadet academic and military performance within mediating role of self-efficacy

Abstract

BackgroundThe current operational military environment is changing, complex, unpredictable, and ambiguous. Due to such situations, soldiers are constantly forced to think about their values, norms, and roles that should be part of their profession. Consequently, they must first be educated and trained on how to behave in a particular operational military environment. Pursuing an officer’s education at military academies is very difficult not only physically but also psychologically. Cadets are required to be prepared to lead in extreme environments upon graduation. Despite the fact that military tasks are technically complex, the individual operational activities of soldiers are gaining more and more strategic meaning. Therefore, the importance of selecting the process and military education programs of soldiers is increasingly stressed. Cognitive abilities and skills individually predict performance in academic and professional settings, but it is less clear how personality can influence performance. Therefore, this study focused on the explanation of the individual factors that affect the achievements of the cadets. Specifically, the objective of this study was to examine direct and mediated relationships between personality traits and the military and academic performance of cadets.MethodsThis study followed a quantitative method analysis. The research models were assessed using the structural equation modeling technique. Bootstrap was applied to evaluate a 95% level confidence interval on estimates with 5,000 bootstrap samples, and to evaluate direct and indirect effects. The analysis was based on a sample of 120 cadets from the Lithuanian Military Academy. The effects on military and academic performance were evaluated using the Self-Efficacy scale, the Big Five personality trait scale, academic performance was evaluated through academic grades and military performance was evaluated using instructor ratings.ResultsTo support our hypotheses, it was found that self-efficacy has a mediating effect on the performance of cadets. Additionally, the traits of conscientiousness, openness to experience and extraversion were related to both military and academic performance. Furthermore, self-efficacy appeared as a partial mediator of the relationship between personality traits and cadet performance.ConclusionThe findings of this study help clarify the relationship between the personality traits of the cadets and the military and academic performance. In addition, these results may be useful for the further development of military education and training, for the development of testing, and selection of military personnel.

A network analysis bridging the gap between the big five personality traits and burnout among medical staff

“…Conscientious individuals, known for their ability to manage and organize their work and time, are adept at employing efficient coping mechanisms that keep their focus on problem-solving in stressful situations [ 14 ]. This argument aligns with earlier research suggesting that Conscientiousness facilitates individuals’ perception of professional efficacy [ 53 ]. We also discovered an intriguing positive link between Conscientiousness and Indifferent (B9).…”

The effect of cadet resilience on self-efficacy and professional achievement: verification of the moderated mediating effect of vocational calling

“…The causality between cadet resilience, self-efficacy, and professional achievement underscores an interdependent relationship ( Gilson et al, 2016 ). Resilience and self-efficacy reinforce each other, propelling cadets toward their goals and fostering adaptability, determination, and a robust capacity to thrive in the military domain ( Davis et al, 2019 ; Bekesiene, 2023 ).…”

“…In the domain of career success, self-efficacy is instrumental in mediating the relationship between an individual’s beliefs and their professional achievements ( Eccles and Wigfield, 2020 ; Eliyan et al, 2020 ; Bekesiene, 2023 ). Those who have a strong sense of self-efficacy are more likely to set ambitious career goals, persist through setbacks, and demonstrate the determination needed for career advancement.…”

“…This transition towards recognizing the key role of individual actions within the military domain highlights the need for more comprehensive and nuanced research efforts. The evolving dynamics of warfare, with contemporary operational scenarios often demanding swift, adaptable, and strategic responses from soldiers, require a more profound understanding of the factors and psychological attributes that underpin military effectiveness ( Goodwin et al, 2018 ; Bekesiene, 2023 ; Covington et al, 2024 ). Given this evolving landscape, it is evident that contemporary research in this domain is instrumental not only in shaping the selection and training processes but also in enhancing overall military performance and readiness in an era marked by dynamic challenges and shifting paradigms ( Britt et al, 2013 ).…”

“…In the realm of academic research, prior investigations have predominantly focused on the evaluation of students’ beliefs and attitudes pertaining to their capacity to attain academic excellence ( Caprara et al, 2011 ; Zimmerman, 2013 ; Hayat et al, 2020 ; Bekesiene, 2023 ). These studies have frequently employed self-efficacy as a mediating factor to understand the relationship between such beliefs and actual academic performance within civilian educational institutions ( Yu et al, 2016 ; Alyami et al, 2017 ; Doménech-Betoret et al, 2017 ; Li et al, 2022 ).…”