Predisposing factors leading to depression in the British Army

Finnegan, A. and Finnegan, S. and McGee, P. and Srinivasan, M. and Simpson, R. (2010) Predisposing factors leading to depression in the British Army. British Journal of Nursing, 19 (21). pp. 1355-1362. ISSN 09660461 (ISSN)

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Abstract

Few studies have explored the predisposing factors leading to depression within the British Army, and this qualitative investigation provides a novel approach to advance knowledge in this poorly researched area. Information was provided by army mental health (MH) clinicians, with results aligned to theoretical groupings under the headings of: occupational stressors; macho culture, stigma and bullying; unhappy young soldier; relationships and gender. These issues were influenced by peacetime and operational settings; the support offered by the Army Medical Services and unit command. The results indicate that Army personnel are exposed to multi-factorial stressors that are incremental/accumulative in nature. Soldiers can cope with extreme pressures, often in hostile environments, but often cannot cope with a failing relationship. Officers were worried about the occupational implications of reporting ill, and the negative impact on their career, and might seek support from private civilian agencies, which have potentially dangerous ramifications as they may still deploy. GPs refer female soldiers more frequently for a mental health assessment because women express their emotions more openly then men. Young disillusioned soldiers who want to leave the Army form the main group of personnel accessing mental health support, although often they are not clinically depressed.

Item Type: Article
Dates:
DateEvent
25 November 2010Published
Uncontrolled Keywords: Army, Defence nursing, Depression, Mental health, adaptive behavior, adult, article, depression, female, gender identity, human, male, middle aged, military nursing, nursing, nursing methodology research, psychological aspect, soldier, United Kingdom, Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Depressive Disorder, Female, Gender Identity, Great Britain, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Military Nursing, Military Personnel, Nursing Methodology Research
Subjects: CAH02 - subjects allied to medicine > CAH02-04 - nursing and midwifery > CAH02-04-01 - nursing (non-specific)
CAH04 - psychology > CAH04-01 - psychology > CAH04-01-01 - psychology (non-specific)
Divisions: Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > School of Nursing and Midwifery
Depositing User: Yasser Nawaz
Date Deposited: 25 Feb 2017 19:49
Last Modified: 12 Jan 2022 11:40
URI: https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/2793

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