Abstract
BackgroundDepression is pervasive in the military context and is likely to elicit lasting negative effects on health. Based on interpersonal models, social-interpersonal stressors are significantly associated with the development and maintenance of depression. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which these stressors increase the risk of depression in terms of social relationships. Rejection sensitivity, which refers to people who are sensitive to social rejection and tend to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and overreact to it, may play an underlying role in this process, as it is formed through social-interpersonal stressors and then aggravates further symptoms of depression.ObjectivesThe current study aimed to examine the mediating effects on the relationship between social-interpersonal stressors and depressive symptoms in the military context.MethodsThis study recruited 600 soldiers aged from 17 to 36 (M = 21.80; SD = 2.99; 100% males) with a cluster sampling method who completed Social-Interpersonal Stressors subscale, Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ), and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Mediation analyses examined the underlying mechanism between social-interpersonal stressors and depressive symptoms.ResultsThe results support the hypothesis and indicate that rejection sensitivity mediates the association between social-interpersonal stressors and depressive symptoms (B indirect = 0.02, p < 0.001, 95% CI= 0.005 to 0.044).ConclusionsThe findings suggest that interventions designed to desensitize individuals' high levels of rejection sensitivity may help to decrease their risk of depressive symptoms in the military environment. Rejection sensitivity is an important mechanism underpinning the development of depressive symptoms. Other theoretical and applied implications for prevention of depressive symptoms in the military context are discussed.
Highlights
Depression is an important public health problem that has the greatest negative effect on health [1]; the worldwide prevalence of MDD was 3% during the period from 1990 to 2015 [2]
In the military context, the impacts of depression can be exacerbated since military populations encounter additional special stressors, which are associated with the high risk of soldiers' mental health deterioration [4], including potential threat or danger, combat exposure, geographical separation, strict hierarchy, conflict between ranks and limited communication with families [5, 6]
Gadermann et al used 25 epidemiological studies to estimate the prevalence of DSM-IV major depression in U.S military personnel; the results indicated prevalence rates of 12.0% among those currently deployed, 13.1% among those previously deployed and 5.7% among those never deployed [8]
Summary
Depression is an important public health problem that has the greatest negative effect on health [1]; the worldwide prevalence of MDD (major depressive disorder) was 3% during the period from 1990 to 2015 [2]. There are a number of studies on the higher prevalence of major depression disorders and symptoms in military settings. Gadermann et al used 25 epidemiological studies to estimate the prevalence of DSM-IV major depression in U.S military personnel; the results indicated prevalence rates of 12.0% among those currently deployed, 13.1% among those previously deployed and 5.7% among those never deployed [8]. There is substantial evidence that military stressors increase the risk of depressive symptoms. It is essential to reveal the underlying processes related to depressive symptoms to develop effective clinical strategies, especially in the military context, in which the incidence rates of depressive related disorders and symptoms are significantly higher than in other contexts [15]. Rejection sensitivity, which refers to people who are sensitive to social rejection and tend to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and overreact to it, may play an underlying role in this process, as it is formed through social-interpersonal stressors and aggravates further symptoms of depression
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