Testing the stress-buffering effects of self engagement among soldiers on a military operation.

Full Abstract

The present research examined whether self engagement moderated the stressor-strain relationship in a sample of U.S. soldiers deployed on a peacekeeping mission to Bosnia. Given that individuals were nested within groups (Army companies), we examined the relationships of interest using multilevel random coefficient models. The results of these analyses revealed that self engagement interacted with three different stressors (lower amounts of sleep, work stress, family stress) in the prediction of psychological distress. In support of self engagement as a buffer against stress, when stressors were low (high amounts of sleep, low levels of work stress, and family stress), soldiers reported relatively low levels of psychological distress and physical symptoms, regardless of whether they were engaged in or disengaged from their job. However, when stressor levels were high, soldiers who were engaged in their job reported less elevation in reports of psychological distress than soldiers who were disengaged from their job. The results are discussed in terms of the potential mechanisms by which self engagement might protect individuals from stressful circumstances.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Britt, Thomas W (TW); Bliese, Paul D (PD);

Affiliation: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, USA. twbritt(-atsign-)clemson.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of personality (J Pers), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Apr; vol 71 (issue 2) : pp 245-65

Dates: Created 2003/04/15; Completed 2003/08/14; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12693517, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Internal-External Control
Job Satisfaction
Male
Military Personnel - psychology
Motivation
Personality Inventory
Social Identification
Stress, Psychological - complications

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.