Psychological Adaptation, Psychological Stress
Conditions
Brief summary
This study evaluates the influence of a resilience training on psychobiological factors which are related to stress and resilience in young healthy male cadets. Half of participants will join in the resilience training, while the other half take part in a control-training (diversity management training).
Detailed description
The resilience training (Army Resilience Training / ART) is a stress prevention program based on well established methods from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Positive Psychology adapted for the needs of Swiss Armed Forces. ART is designed for healthy subjects to learn how to get over strain. Diversity management training (DMT) aims to promote social skills and acts as control condition. DMT is part of the military training but not mandatory for the study population.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALArmy Resilience Training
The Army Resilience Training consists four training sessions of 90 minutes each. Participants learn to reflect their stress management (including thinking, emotions, behavioral consequences; coping strategies) and build resilience using specific strategies.
OTHERDiversity Management Training
Diversity Management Training consists four training sessions of 90 minutes each. Participants learn about diversity and social awareness reflecting different situations and settings.
Sponsors
Swiss Armed Forces
Military Academy at ETH Zurich
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 28 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* military cadets of the Swiss Army Infantry Officers School Inf OS 10-1/17
Exclusion criteria
* no
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in heart rate variability (HRV) | Weeks 2 (baseline) and 9 of the military training | Change is the difference from HRV at baseline (week 2) and after resilience training (intervention) in week 9 |
| Area under the curve (AUC) with respect to changes of salivary cortisol titer | Weeks 2 and 9 of the military training | During stress exposure; six saliva samples will be taken and analyzed for cortisol reactivity. |
| Change of Testosterone Levels | Weeks 2 and 9 of the military training | During stress exposure; four saliva samples will be taken and analyzed for testosterone levels. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Intensity of acute psychological stress | Weeks 2, 9 and 12 of the military training | Perceived stress intensity measured by Visual Analogue Scale |
| Affect of acute psychological stress | Weeks 2, 9 and 12 of the military training | Perceived stress measured by Positive Negative Affect |
| Stress Appraisal | Weeks 2, 9 and 12 of the military training | Perceived stress appraisal measured by Primary and Secondary Appraisal |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Personality | Weeks 1 and 15 of the military training and follow-up (+7 months) | Personality measured by following questionnaire: NEO-Five Factor Inventory |
| Dark Triad | Weeks 1 and 15 of the military training and follow-up (+7 months) | Dark Triad measured by following questionnaire: Dark Triad / Dirty Dozen |
| Self-Esteem | Weeks 1 and 15 of the military training and follow-up (+7 months) | Self-Esteem measured by following questionnaire: Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale |
| Optimism | Weeks 1 and 15 of the military training and follow-up (+7 months) | Optimism measured by following questionnaire: Life Orientation Test |
| Resilience | Weeks 1 and 15 of the military training and follow-up (+7 months) | Resilience measured by following questionnaire: Brief Resilience Scale |
| Health | Weeks 1 and 15 of the military training and follow-up (+7 months) | Health measured by following questionnaire: Maastricht Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire |
| Sleep | Weeks 1 and 15 of the military training and follow-up (+7 months) | Sleep measured by following questionnaire: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index |
| Leadership | Follow-up (+7 months) | Leadership measured by following questionnaire: Leader Member Exchange |
| Social Support | Weeks 1 and 15 of the military training and follow-up (+7 months) | Social Support measured by following questionnaire: Berlin Social Support Scales |
| Psychological Resistance | Weeks 1 and 15 of the military training and follow-up (+7 months) | Psychological Resistance measured by following questionnaire: Resilience Scale RS-11 |
| Perceived Stress | BWeeks 1 and 15 of the military training and follow-up (+7 months) | Stress management measured by following questionnaire: Perceived Stress Questionnaire |
| Stress Reactivity | BWeeks 1 and 15 of the military training and follow-up (+7 months) | Stress management measured by following questionnaire: Stress Reactivity Scale |
| Coping Strategies | Weeks 1 and 15 of the military training and follow-up (+7 months) | Stress management measured by following questionnaire: Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations |
| Cognitive Emotion Regulation | Weeks 1 and 15 of the military training and follow-up (+7 months) | Stress management measured by following questionnaire: Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire |
Countries
Switzerland
Outcome results
None listed