Belief in the ability to deal with an emergency situation among IDF mental health officers during a military operation

Abstract

The very nature of army mental health officers' (MHOs') work is their exposure to stressors––those experienced by those they treat, as well as those the MHOs experience directly, such as acute work-family conflict in emergency situations. This exposure is a potential source of personal distress. Aim: To examine to what extent the MHOs of the Israeli military believe in their ability to use professional tools and effectively perform as a therapist in emergency situations. Method: Four questionnaires were distributed in the course of a military operation (N = 87): General SelfEfficacy Scale, MHO Self-Efficacy Scale, Perceived Problem-Solving Test as a Threat Scale, and StateTrait Anxiety Inventory. Results: Findings showed that the military tenure of MHOs was associated with their perceived ability to function as therapists (MHO self-efficacy) and with the extent to which problem-solving tasks were perceived as threatening. Longer tenure in the current military position was associated with a higher sense of general self-efficacy and a higher level of MHO self-efficacy in emergency situations. Neither gender differences, location of residence, or site of military service (near or far from the high-risk war zone) were found to be associated with the MHOs' perceived ability to function as therapists and their general selfefficacy. Conclusion: Training MHOs in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) during routine times, in preparation for emergency situations. is very important for functioning as a therapist. These training programs also attend to the MHOs' ability to maintain their personal resources while intervening during and after an emergency.