Peacekeeping Deployment Stress And Posttraumatic Growth:Scale Development And A Moderated Mediation Model

ObjectivesTo compile and test the reliability and validity of the peacekeeping deployment stress scale,so as to provide a research tool for exploring the impact of potential trauma and stressors on the mental health of soldiers and soldiers in peacekeeping deployment.To further explore the impact and mechanism of peacekeeping deployment stress exposure on post-traumatic growth,so as to provide evidence for mental health protection of peacekeeping officers and soldiers during their mission period.MethodsThis study is divided into two parts.The first part is the compilation of peacekeeping deployment stress scale.The theoretical model and structural model of the scale were determined based on literature review and semi-structured interview,and the test items were compiled,and the basic items were revised by experts.A preliminary test was carried out on soldiers of a peacekeeping battalion,engineering battalion,helicopter detachment and medical team sent to South Sudan and Abyei.After project analysis,factor analysis and reliability and validity test,a measuring tool with various indicators meeting psychological standards was finally formed.The second part was about the mechanism of peacekeeping deployment stress exposure on posttraumatic growth.Studies of using a measuring tool,through the questionnaire survey,based on the transformation of function of posttraumatic growth model and adversity after the growth of the body’s valuation theory,core beliefs challenge and deliberate rumination in peacekeepers stress exposure with the chain of intermediary role between posttraumatic growth,as well as the resilience to the model of adjustment.SPSS24.0 and PROCESS macro statistical software were used to analyze and PROCESS the data using descriptive analysis,correlation analysis,regression analysis,mediating effect test and moderating effect test.ResultsIn part one,the scale was developed into 5 factors,including trauma exposure,threat perception,daily annoyance,homesickness and interpersonal conflict,with a total of 5 dimensions and 20 items.The cumulative contribution rate is 67.55%.The scale has good validity and reliability.In terms of reliability,the overall Cronbach’s a coefficient of the scale was 0.87,and the split reliability was 0.83.In terms of validity,the model fitting indexes in confirmatory factor analysis are mostly within the ideal standard range:χ2/df=2.55,CFI=0.903,GFI=0.903,RMSEA=0.066,SRMR=0.053,indicating that the model has good structural validity.The calibration correlation validity between the total score of the scale and The PTSD checklist for DSM-5 and the Patient Health Questionnaire9 was 0.508 and 0.521(p<0.01).AUC value was 0.819,indicating that the scale has certain diagnostic value.In part two,the results showed peacekeeping deployment stress exposure significantly negatively predicted posttraumatic growth(β=-0.11,p<0.05).The indirect effect was 0.06(95%CI=[0.01,0.10])with core belief challenge as the mediating variable,and-0.02(95%CI=[-0.05,0.00])with deliberate rumination as the mediating variable.The indirect path effect of core belief challenge and deliberate rumination was 0.07(95%CI=[0.04,0.10]),indicating that the chain mediating effect of core belief challenge and deliberate rumination on the negative effect of stress exposure on posttraumatic growth was established.Because the indirect effect of the mediation model is opposite to the sign of direct effect,this mediation effect is the suppressing effect.Stress exposure × resilience predicted core belief challenge(β=0.15,p<0.05)and posttraumatic growth(β=0.23,p<0.001)significantly.Furthermore,the relationship between stress exposure and core belief challenge and posttraumatic growth was further examined at the level of resilience.It was found that for individuals with high resilience,the positive relationship between stress exposure and core belief challenge was stronger than that of individuals with low resilience.Furthermore,the negative predictive effect of stress exposure on posttraumatic growth was found only in individuals with low resilience.ConclusionsIn part one,the items of the Peacekeeping Deployment Stress Scale conform to the principles of good representativeness,high sensitivity and good differentiation.After statistical and professional analysis,the reliability and validity of the scale meet the basic requirements of the scale,and it can be used as a tool to evaluate the peacekeeping deployment stress.In the part one,peacekeeping deployment stress exposure significantly negatively affected posttraumatic growth,and partially masked the negative effects through two indirect pathways:Stress exposure significantly positively predicted core belief challenge,and then positively affected deliberate rumination,and finally positively affected posttraumatic growth;Stress exposure can also indirectly affect posttraumatic growth only through core belief challenge.However,the indirect effect through deliberate rumination is not significant.Moderated mediation analysis further showed that resilience moderated the relationship between stress exposure and core belief challenge and posttraumatic growth.The predictive effect of stress exposure on core belief challenge was stronger in individuals with high resilience.The negative predictive effect of stress exposure on posttraumatic growth was only significant in individuals with low resilience.