Relationship between occupational stress and mental health in grassroot servicemen: the mediating effect of passive coping style

Abstract

Objective To explore the correlational relationships of military occupational stress, passive coping style and mental health, in an effort to provide scientific evidence for mental health preservation. Methods By random cluster sampling, a total of 719 army officers and soldiers were administered Chinese Military Mental Health Scale(CMMHS), Military Occupational Stress Scale and Military Personnel Scene-trait Coping Style Scale.Data collected were analyzed with correlational analysis, stepwise linear regression analysis, and pathway analysis in SPSS version17.0 and Amos7.0. Results All factors of military occupational stress and passive coping style significantly correlated with mental health(r=-0.212~0.892, P<0.01). Stepwise linear regression analysis results suggested that job stress, interpersonal relationship, leadership, and special military circumstances accounted for 36.2% of passive coping style’s variation(F=102.931, P<0.05); passive interpersonal relationship, passive affection, passive military circumstances, passive health & economic status accounted for 20.9% of mental health's variation(F=48.331, P<0.05). The effect of occupational stress upon mental health was enhanced by the introduction of passive coping style. The main fitting indexes of pathway model of occupational stress, passive coping style and mental health were as the following: χ2/df=3.355, GFI=0.947, AGFI=0.928, NFI=0.958, IFR=0.950, IFI=0.970, TLI=0.964, CFR=0.970, RMSEA=0.057. Conclusions The military occupational stress and passive coping style are key influence factors on mental health in grassroot servicemen. Passive coping style have mediating effect between occupational stress and mental health. Key words: Military personnel; Mental health; Occupational stress; Passive coping style; Pathway model