Sustainable Reservists’ Services: The Effect of Resilience on the Intention to Remain in the Active Military Reserve Using a Parallel Mediating Model

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BackgroundThe development of resilience is of the utmost importance in military training due to the demanding and high-stress nature of combat situations. Although there have been numerous studies on resilience competencies in the military, there is a research gap when it comes to identifying the most essential competencies that should be prioritized in training programs, particularly within compressed timeframes. With the current geopolitical landscape and ongoing military conflicts in Europe, it is necessary to expedite training of soldiers, including resilience training, without compromising the effectiveness of the program. This study aims to address this research gap by using a reductionist approach to resilience training and identifying the critical competencies that senior soldiers need to be trained to coach younger soldiers to maintain psychological strength during deployment. By filling this research gap, the study will contribute to the development of more efficient and targeted resilience training programs that optimize the ability of soldiers to adapt and excel in challenging military environments.MethodsTo address the issue, this study assessed the competencies comprising the master resilience training (MRT) program, widely recognized as one of the most effective military resilience training programs. Two groups of military experts, totaling 16 individuals, were involved in the evaluation process, representing two military contexts. The first group consisted of Ukrainian military experts whose experiences primarily focused on defending their own country’s territory. The second group comprised Lithuanian military experts who had greater expertise in conducting military missions abroad. The assessment of resilience competencies was carried out using a deep analysis approach through the application of effective multi-criteria decision making (MCDM). Specifically, the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method was used, which is a significant multicriteria technique used to determine relationships among criteria and assign weight coefficients. In this study, the DEMATEL model was extended using trapezoidal fuzzy numbers (TrFN-DEMATEL) to accommodate decision-making under uncertainty conditions.ResultsThe research findings highlight the critical importance of three core resilience competencies: self-regulation, mental agility and strength of character. The importance of each competency varies depending on the specific military context. When defending one’s own country’s territory, strength of character emerges as the key factor in enhancing soldiers’ mental resilience. Conversely, during military operations abroad, self-regulation is the primary factor that promotes psychological resilience. Furthermore, the results show that these three primary competencies form a ‘cause group’ that influences other competencies through a cause-and-effect dependency.ConclusionBased on the findings, the theoretical conclusion is drawn that the importance of resilience competencies is contextually differentiated. Furthermore, each resilience competency is associated with a set of causes or effects. These are valuable insights for improving resilience competency training programs.

Section: Discussion Based On Dematel Calculation Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prioritizing competencies for soldier’s mental resilience: an application of integrative fuzzy-trapezoidal decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory in updating training program

Bekesiene,

Smaliukienė,

Vaičaitienė

et al. 2024

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“…Cadets resilience was found to affect their self-efficacy positively. Military resilience involves maintaining high levels of operational readiness even in the face of changing and unpredictable circumstances ( Beckner et al, 2022 ; Bekesiene et al, 2022 , 2023 ; Flood and Keegan, 2022 ). This readiness enables military forces to respond promptly and effectively to various threats, whether they are natural disasters or security challenges.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the internal consistency of the measurement instruments was rigorously evaluated using the Cronbach alpha coefficient, enhancing the reliability of the data collected. The hypothesized relationships between the model constructs were assessed using SPSS AMOS version 29, and the coefficient weights were selected in alignment with the recommendations of previous researchers ( Bekesiene et al, 2017a , b ; Bekesiene et al, 2022 ; Smaliukienė et al, 2023 ). These scholars have advocated for a versatile methodology to assess the appropriateness of a theoretical model.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Navickienė,

Vasiliauskas

2024

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BackgroundThe primary objective of this study was to empirically examine the influence of cadets’ resilience on their professional achievement within the unique context of a Military Academy. In doing so, the study sought to delineate the role of self-efficacy as a key mediator in the intricate relationship between the resilience of cadets and their professional achievements. The main focus of this study was to clarify the causal and effect relationships between the psychology and behavior mechanisms of the cadets. This was achieved through rigorous scrutiny of the moderated mediating effect of vocational calling within the multifaceted relationship involving cadets’ resilience, self-efficacy, and professional achievement.MethodsThe study’s participant pool consisted of 121 individuals, comprising cadets in their third and fourth years of study, all of whom aspired to attain the rank of officer within the Military Academy. To rigorously investigate the hypotheses presented, a series of causal relationships among the four core variables were evaluated using a robust regression analysis methodology. To facilitate this analysis, the PROCESS macro 3.5v, a Hayes-developed tool, was effectively used.ResultsThe findings of this study revealed several critical insights. First, vocational calling emerged as a potent moderating factor in shaping the relationship between cadets’ resilience and self-efficacy. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that vocational calling exerted a conditional influence on the impact of cadets’ resilience on their professional achievement, with self-efficacy serving as a crucial mediating mechanism in this relationship. In particular, the study affirmed that self-efficacy functioned as a comprehensive mediator, elucidating the pathway through which the resilience of the cadets ultimately influenced their professional achievements.ConclusionThe results of this research contribute significantly to enhancing our understanding of the intricate connection between the resilience levels exhibited by cadets and their corresponding professional achievements. Furthermore, these findings have valuable implications for the ongoing refinement of military education and training programs. They offer insights that could inform the development of more effective testing and selection protocols for military personnel, ultimately benefiting the armed forces in their pursuit of excellence.

“…More specific, perceived self-efficacy is concerned with a soldier’s beliefs in his/her capabilities to control and make an impact ( Bandura, 1999 ). The soldier’s self-efficacy has been theoretically and empirically linked to increased resilience ( Djourova et al, 2020 ; Bekesiene et al, 2022 ) and positive adaptation in day-to-day life ( Butler et al, 2021 ). As described by Schnell et al (2013) , self-efficacy allows a person to perceive “one’s acts as significant and therefore meaningful.”…”

Section: Measuring Meaning In Military Service By Reservists: Hypothe...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Meaning in military service among reservists: Measuring the effect of prosocial motivation in a moderated-mediation model

Smaliukienė

Bekešienė²,

Kanapeckaitė³

et al. 2023

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IntroductionThe meaningful commitment to serve one’s country and the desire to defend others make military service unique compared to other human activities. This is especially true for the army reservists who are typically working in the civilian labor market and serving military for the short-term military training or military missions only. As scholars provide limited insights into the effects and influences of prosocial motivation on meaning in military service, this study contributes to the understanding of direct, mediated, and moderated processes which link prosocial motivation to meaning in military service among reservists. Specifically, the objective of this study was to examine both direct and indirect pathways interconnecting prosocial motivation and meaning in military service. The former is analyzed as a direct effect, while the latter includes the effects of role fit within the military environment, the soldiers’ self-efficacy, as well as the socio-moral climate of military organization—that is, a variable making military service an exceptional activity.MethodsThis study followed a quantitative method analysis by utilizing a hierarchical regression analysis which revealed direct, moderating, and mediating links between the variables. The analysis was based on a sample of 375 soldiers from the Active Reserve of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and the data were collected before and after training exercises in one military unit (repeated measures). The effects on providing meaning to military service were evaluated using the following: Occupational Self-Efficacy Scale, Prosocial Motivation Scale, Motivation at Work Scale, and Socio-Moral Climate Scale. Prosocial motivation assumes meaning in military service among reservists through different, yet related, pathways.Results and discussionThe direct pathway confirmed that reserve soldiers with higher levels of prosocial motivation experience a higher level of meaning in service. The indirect pathway indicated that role fit mediated this relationship. Following the latter, we found that prosocial motivation was a significant predictor of both role fit and meaning in military service. Finally, we confirmed the moderated-mediation effects of self-efficacy and socio-moral climate in our suggested models. The results can be used to improve training programs for reservists.