Psychological resources for coping with the stress experienced by soldiers participating in missions

Introduction and objective The aim of this study was to assess the level of the sense of coherence and stress coping strategies among the homecoming participants of foreign military missions. Due to the nature of peacekeeping and stabilising missions and the tasks performed by their participants, the ability to cope with a stressful situation in the face of danger is crucial, not only for the sake of their health, but most of all due to its significant impact on collective security. Material and methods Converted values of the scores obtained in the Polish adaptation of Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations by Szczepanik, Strelau and Wrześniewski were used as indicators for stress coping styles (a dependent variable). The results received in Antonovsky’s Orientation to Life Questionnaire (Sense of Coherence Scale, SOC-29) were employed as indicators for the sense of coherence (an independent variable). Results The stronger the sense of coherence, the more likely the respondent to choose the task-oriented coping style. Owing to cognitive transformations, a difficult situation is interpreted as a challenge that can be coped with by a given person, who then makes efforts to solve the problem. Conclusions The research clearly shows that: (1) a strong sense of coherence significantly reduces the level of perceived stress and has a decisive impact on the choice of the preferred coping style; (2) the sense of coherence determines the choice of the preferred stress coping style; (3) individuals with a strong sense of coherence perceive stressors as challenges rather than threats; (4) individuals with a low sense of coherence tend to focus their energy on negative emotions and engage in activities of a definitely unhealthy nature (smoking, alcohol consumption).