Fall 2002, Vol. 10, No. 1

Work Stress in the Military

By Major Steven Pflanz, MD
Cheyenne, WY

Recent research, published in Military Medicine in November 2002, suggests work stress may be an important occupational health hazard for military personnel. Previous research has demonstrated the adverse effects of combat, exposure to heavy casualties, deployment to a war zone, and unexpected mobilizations and trauma associated with humanitarian missions on the emotional functioning of military personnel. However, little research exists on the impact of the routine, peacetime military work environment on the health of military personnel. The existing research has been conducted primarily with military mental health patients. Clearly, conclusions regarding the nature of the military work environment based solely on mental health patient populations are not sufficient.

In this study, 472 military personnel assigned to F. E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming, were questioned using survey methodology. One-quarter (26%) of respondents reported that they were suffering from significant work stress. Nearly one in five (15%) reported that work stress was causing them significant emotional distress. Almost one in ten (8%) reported suffering from work stress that was severe enough to be damaging their emotional health. The report of work stress in the study was independent of age, sex, education, years of military service, rank, and marital status. Importantly, the military personnel studied were significantly more likely to report work stress than other American workers.

These military personnel did not commonly report military-specific stressors, such as deployment overseas, periodic change of station, involuntary assignment, or frequent duty away from home. Instead, they typically reported job stressors that were common in the civilian arena, such as changes in work responsibilities, work hours, or type of work. Only one of the top five and four of the top ten stressors identified by these military personnel were military-specific. Only one military specific stressor (periodic change of station) was endorsed by more than 10% of the respondents.

Despite the events of the past year, the majority of military personnel over the past 25 years have not served during periods of war. This research and previous studies suggest that the most unique aspects of military jobs, such as deploying overseas in the face of danger, are not the only sources of distress for military personnel. Thus, work stress in the military cannot be simply dismissed by the fact that the business of war is stressful. Previous research has demonstrated that professions with little autonomy and long work hours are associated with increased work stress and psychiatric illness. These factors are often attributes of the military work environment and may account for some of the job stress in the military.

Given the negative impact of work stress and psychiatric illness on work functioning, it is important for the military to understand and reduce the causes of occupational stress in its personnel. As America moves into the 21st Century, our reliance on the military to protect the nation from terrorism and other threats has increased. This study suggests that additional research on work stress in the military is warranted.

Major Steven Pflanz, MD, is the Program Director for AOOP's 14th Annual Meeting and Chief of Mental Health Services and Deputy Squadron Commander of the 90th Medical Operations Squadron, F. E. Warren Air Force Base. He is also the USAF Space Command Psychiatry Consultant.

References:

Pflanz S, Sonnek S: Work Stress in the Military: Prevalence, Causes and Relationship to Emotional Health. Military Medicine 167 (11), 2002.

Pflanz S: Occupational Stress & Psychiatric Illness in the Military: Investigation of the relationship between occupational stress & mental illness amongst military mental health patients. Military Medicine 166(6): 457-462, 2001.

 
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