J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2013 Sep;22(3):147-158.

Impact of Relational Self Psychology and Community Attitudes toward Mentally Ill Persons on Adjustment during Army Life

• Park WJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify predictors influencing adjustment during army life after analyzing the relationship among relational self, community attitudes toward the mentally ill (CAMI), and adjustment during army life in Korea.
METHODS
A cross sectional study design was conducted with 230 soldiers from two military units located in Y and B cities. Data were analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 18.0.
RESULTS
Empathy-care showed significantly positive correlations with adjustment during army life. Avoidance of relationships showed significantly negative correlations with adjustment. Negative concepts in CAMI, such as authoritarianism and social restrictiveness, became were getting more negative. Positive concepts in CAMI, such as benevolence and community mental health ideology, were lacking. Significant factors were empathy-care, authoritarianism, overdependence on relations, and social restrictiveness which explained 30.1% (F=8.55, p<.001) of adjustment during army life.
CONCLUSION
To improve military adjustment for soldiers, it is necessary to reduce misunderstandings of people with mentally illness as well as to make efforts towards systematic interpersonal relationship interventions for positive evaluation of self and others to enhance the mental health of soldiers.

Keyword

Self psychology; Mentally ill persons; Social adjustment; Army personnel

MeSH Terms

Authoritarianism
Beneficence
Humans
Mental Health
Mentally Ill Persons*
Military Personnel
Self Psychology*
Social Adjustment

Figure

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  Figure 1 Conceptual framework of this study.

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