Improved Mood State and Absence of Sex Differences in Response to the Stress of Army Basic Combat Training

Abstract

Background: It is reported that women are more susceptible to stress than men but they have not been compared in stressful, real-world, team-centered, occupational/training environments. This study investigated effects of Army Basic Combat Training (BCT), a structured military training program, on the mood of young adult men and women. Methods: Using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire, 169 soldiers (98 men and 71 women) were assessed prior to starting BCT and after each phase of training. Results: Significant improvements were found in five of six subscales over the course of BCT. Men and women responded positively and similarly to BCT. POMS scores attributable to an interaction of time and each factor of sex, age group, education level, ethnicity, and race were not significantly different. Conclusions: When studied in the same environment and exposed to the same stressors, men and women in this study responded similarly. The positive changes in mood in both sexes during BCT appear to result from the interaction of a structured physical and cognitive training program conducted in a team-oriented environment, and indicate that BCT enhances soldier mood similarly regardless of sex.

Energy Deficiency in Soldiers: The Risk of the Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport Syndromes in the Military

“…The 8 week US Army Ranger course increased tension, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion, and decreased vigor (176); similar disturbances to mood have been reported following just 3 days of sustained military activities in severe energy deficit (∼3,000 kcal•d −1 ) (175,178). US basic military training improved mood for both men and women (166,(184)(185)(186), where energy intake was more likely matched to energy expenditure (124,187). Conversely, women undergoing the 44-week British Army Officer basic military training course had decreased resilience and increased depression (93).…”

Ecological Momentary Mood, Resilience, and Mental Health Status as Predictors of Quality of Life Among Young Adults Under Stress: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

“…Although female recruits have been part of combat units in the military for several years, data regarding their psychological adaptation and psychological resilience in relation to their QoL is still mixed (21,22). Specifically, while some studies report no differences in the degree of self-reported adversities in females compared to their male counterparts (5,7,17), others find higher levels of self-reported adversities among newly-recruited females soldiers (23)(24)(25). These excessive mental challenges can lead to severe drops in the various domains of QoL in female compared to male soldiers (26,27), as was indeed found in a few recent studies (28,29).…”

“…Although many Israelis are motivated to serve in IDF and face the challenges related to the military service ( 10 ), difficulties in adjusting to the new environmental are frequent ( 11 ). While the negative impact of stress on QoL has been well-documented in multiple adolescent populations, such as in those living in high threat environments ( 12 , 13 ), in at-risk youth ( 14 ), in university students ( 15 ) and in college students ( 16 ), little is known about contributors to the QoL of newly recruited soldiers during their BCT in the army worldwide, as most studies examining QoL were conducted in veterans or in combat soldiers after their basic training phase ( 17 , 18 ).…”

Identification and Description of Novel Mood Profile Clusters

“…For example, van Wijk et al ( 2013 ) found that a BRUMS cut-off score of ≥ 24 for total mood disturbance (i.e., sum of scores for tension, depression, anger, fatigue and confusion minus vigor score) at demobilization gave a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 79% for subsequent post-traumatic symptoms. In a similar vein, mood profiling was used to investigate effects of stress during basic army combat training (Lieberman et al, 2016 ). Other applications of mood profiling include monitoring the psychological well-being of cardiac rehabilitation patients (Sties et al, 2014 ), post-operative adjustment following prostate surgery (Braslis et al, 1995 ), post-menopausal symptomology (Wyrwich and Yu, 2011 ), adolescent suicide risk (Gould et al, 2005 ), and subjective effects of pharmaceuticals (Salzman et al, 1995 ) and illicit drugs (Weddington et al, 1990 ).…”