Physical fitness level affects perception of chronic stress in military trainees

Abstract

This study investigated whether physical fitness affects the perception of chronic stress in military trainees while controlling for established factors influencing stress perception. The sample consisted of 273 men (20.23 ± 1.12 years, 73.56 ± 10.52 kg, 1.78 ± 0.06 m). Physical fitness was measured by progressive endurance run (maximum oxygen uptake; VO max), standing long jump, seated shot put, trunk muscle strength, and one leg standing test. Perceived stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Questionnaire in Weeks 1 and 11 of basic military training (BMT). VO max and four influencing variables (perceived stress in Week 1, neuroticism, transformational leadership style, and education level) explained 44.44% of the variance of the increase in perceived stress during 10 weeks of BMT (R = 0.444, F = 23.334, p < .001). The explained variance of VO max was 4.14% (R = 0.041), with a Cohen's f effect size of 0.045 (assigned as a small effect by Cohen, ). The results indicate a moderating influence of good aerobic fitness on the varied level of perceived stress. We conclude that it is advisable to provide conscripts with a specific endurance training program prior to BMT for stress prevention reasons.

On the relationship between physical activity, physical fitness, and stress reactivity to a real-life mental stressor.

“…Therefore, our second hypothesis with respect to cognitive stress appraisal could not be confirmed. Our results are in contrast to previous research indicating lesser perceived stress among highly active and highly fit subjects (Childs & de Wit, 2014; Gerber et al, 2014; Rimmele et al, 2007; Tuch et al, 2017). Nevertheless, our results also confirm previous findings showing higher psychological stress responses in exercising subjects compared with nonexercising subjects (Klaperski et al, 2013).…”

Transformational Leadership, Achievement Motivation, and Perceived Stress in Basic Military Training: A Longitudinal Study of Swiss Armed Forces

“…Again, this hypothesis was supported. We were thus able to replicate earlier findings [46,49,[52][53][54][55][56][57]. However, the present research extends previous work in two ways.…”

“…First, based on [35,50,51] we expected that achievement motivation and OCB would show constant scores at baseline and week 11 of BMT. Second, also on the basis of these earlier studies [46,49,[52][53][54][55][56][57], we expected that perceptions of an increased transformational leadership style from week 7 to week 11 would lead to higher achievement motivation, higher organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and lower perceived stress in subordinates at week 11. Third, on the basis of other studies [4,17,47], we anticipated that a transformational leadership style would have an augmentation effect over transactional leadership style with respect to impact on achievement motivation, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and perceived stress in subordinates at week 11.…”

“…The present analysis was part of a larger study of biological and psychological characteristics of recruits to the Swiss Armed Forces [50,51,56,[60][61][62]. Data have not previously been published or presented in this form.…”

Resilience as a Protective Factor in Basic Military Training, a Longitudinal Study of the Swiss Armed Forces

“…The study was conducted during autumn 2011 and spring 2012. The present analysis was part of a broader study of biological and psychological characteristics of recruits to the Swiss Armed Forces [ 28 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ]. However, the present results have not previously been published and therefore are novel.…”