The phenomenon of survival motivation in the structure of life-meaning orientations and the Self-concept of a serviceman in combat conditions

In the course of the research "The phenomenon of motivation to survive in the structure of life-meaning orientations and the Self-concept of a serviceman's personality in combat conditions", a semi-structured interview was conducted with the participation of military personnel who are on the line of combat contact. In the interview, the clinical signs of acute stress disorder and life-meaning orientations and Self-concepts of the personality of military personnel were investigated. The interview included the following substantive blocks: motivation and the main reasons for participating in combat, current emotional state, behavioral and response characteristics in critical situations, life orientations and value-semantic attitudes, ideas about the future, ways to recover and cope with stress, as well as the most significant event that had a significant impact on the personality of a serviceman. An analysis of the personal stories of military personnel revealed a pronounced relationship between combat stress on the dynamics of Self-concept and the transformation of life-meaning orientations, as well as the specifics of experiencing traumatic experiences in conditions of ongoing threat to life. Special attention is paid to the phenomenon of stress postponement, in which clinical symptoms, including post-traumatic, depressive, and suicidal manifestations, may be latent or delayed. The analysis of the presented interviews confirms the need for systematic dynamic monitoring of the mental state of military personnel and the development of comprehensive programs of preventive, rehabilitative and psychocorrective care aimed at strengthening the existential pillars of personality, developing adaptive strategies for emotional regulation and the formation of supportive interpersonal relationships in the post-war period. The consent of military personnel to receive psychological assistance within the framework of a narrative approach is an important criterion for preventing the transition from acute stress disorder to post-traumatic stress disorder.