A Mixed-Methods Examination of the Effects of Organizational and Incident Stressors on the Mental Health of Navy Corpsmen

Abstract

Military healthcare providers experience a unique combination of occupational stressors, which put them at risk for adverse mental health outcomes. However, little attention has been devoted to organizational and incident stressors. The current study used a mixed-methods approach to examine organizational and incident stressors and their associations with mental health symptoms in a sample of Navy corpsmen. Participants completed qualitative interviews assessing workplace stressors, followed by a quantitative questionnaire that assessed organizational stressors, incident stressors, and mental health symptoms (i.e., depression, posttraumatic stress, and anxiety). Qualitative analyses revealed that corpsmen most commonly discussed themes associated with heavy workload, high level of responsibility, long work hours, lack of leadership support, and feelings of burden associated with the responsibility for saving the lives of others. Quantitative analyses revealed that organizational stressors were associated with depression symptoms and incident stressors were associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms. The results indicated that different types of stressors are associated with distinct mental health outcomes and highlighted modifiable contextual factors that could reduce distress among Navy corpsmen. Interventions that address organizational and incident stressors and enhance resilience would ensure that corpsmen are well-prepared to withstand stressors and provide quality care to their patients.