Abstract
Background With the continuous improvement of the modernization of the Chinese military and the major adjustments made by the state to the recruitment policy, the newly recruited military undergone multiple pressures such as targeted high-intensity military training and environmental changes. The mental health of military has become a crucial factor of improving the fighting capacity effectiveness of the troops. Objectives To explore occupational stress of young recruits in the Xinjiang plateau environment during their basic military training period and analyze the relationship between occupational stress and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels. Methods Using multistage stratified cluster random sampling, 625 recruits stationed at Xinjiang plateau command in 2014 were enrolled as subjects. Occupational stress was assessed by the Occupational Stress Inventory Revised Edition (OSI-R). sIgA in saliva was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The resulting data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests, and correlation analysis. Results Based on demographic characteristics, occupational stress was higher in the urban group than the rural group, coping ability for stress was greater in individuals who were students before joining the army than nonstudents, occupational stress was higher in smokers than nonsmokers, and coping ability for stress was higher in nonsmokers than in smokers (all P < 0.05). Being an only child, educational level and age were not significantly related to occupational stress scores (P > 0.05). Salivary sIgA level was higher in the high occupational stress group than in the low stress group (P < 0.01). Salivary sIgA was positively correlated with scores on the occupational role and personal strain questionnaires (rs = 0.229, rs = 0.268, P < 0.01). Conclusion Demographic characteristics influenced occupational stress among young recruits in cold and high-altitude area. Further, there were some relationships between occupational stress and salivary sIgA in young military recruits.
Highlights
The Xinjiang plateau military region, the frontier of China’s western strategic direction, is the entire territory of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Ali area of the Tibet Autonomous Region
Some questionnaires were excluded because of incomplete information or logical errors, resulting in 597 (95.5%) questionnaires used for analysis
This study suggests that smoking may be associated with occupational stress
Summary
The Xinjiang plateau military region, the frontier of China’s western strategic direction, is the entire territory of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Ali area of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The garrison is widely located in the plateau, desert, and snow mountains It has the highest altitude of 5,300 m above sea level. The main characteristics of the environment of the Xinjiang plateau are cold climate, gradual temperature decrease with increase in altitude, low oxygen content, and strong ultraviolet radiation. This harsh natural environment along with arduous combat tasks has a potential impact on the physical and mental health of soldiers. To explore occupational stress of young recruits in the Xinjiang plateau environment during their basic military training period and analyze the relationship between occupational stress and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels. Demographic characteristics influenced occupational stress among young recruits in cold and high-altitude area. There were some relationships between occupational stress and salivary sIgA in young military recruits
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