CHFRACTERISTICS OF COMBAT STRESS IN RELIGIOUS AND NON-RELIGIOUS MILITARY PERSONNEL

Abstract

This article presents the results of an empirical study on the characteristics of combat stress among religious and non-religious military personnel. The aim of the study was to identify differences in the structure of stress experiences and the level of psychological resources depending on an individual’s religiosity. The relevance of the study stems from the increasing psycho-emotional strain on military personnel in combat conditions and the need to identify effective resources for coping with stress. Examining the role of religiosity as a potential coping resource is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of psychological support and adaptation among military personnel, as well as for reducing distress levels. The theoretical foundation of this work is based on the research of O. A. Blinov in the field of stress psychology, as well as the works of O. Odesevich, V. Bragina, N. Prokhorov, V. Kondratyeva, and others, who have investigated various aspects of the influence of religion on stress. For diagnosis, O. A. Bilinov’s combat stress questionnaire was used, which allows for the assessment of the level of acute stress reaction, resource availability, as well as the influence of direct and indirect stress factors. The study found no statistically significant differences between the groups on the scales measuring acute stress response and the immediate emotional impact of stress. At the same time, it was found that religious military personnel have a statistically significantly higher level of the resource block, indicating a greater ability to cope with stressful situations. Higher indicators of the influence of indirect stress factors and the overall level of combat stress were also recorded among religious respondents. The results indicate that religiosity does not reduce the intensity of stress experiences but serves as an important internal resource that facilitates more effective psychological adaptation in combat conditions. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential to utilize religiosity as a factor in providing psychological support to military personnel.