https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Bessey2022

Bessey, A. F., Black, K. J., & Britt, T. W. (2023). A bidirectional examination of mental health symptoms and perceptions of leader support: Which comes first? Military Psychology, 35(2), 119-131. https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2022.2085957

The study examined the direction of effects (i.e., which effect came first?) between leadership support for psychological health and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression accounting for combat exposure. 485 active-duty Service members completed surveys at two time points, reporting their perceptions of support provided by their unit leader regarding psychological health, as well as their own PTSD and depression symptoms and combat exposure. Leadership support for psychological health was linked to lower mental health symptomatology five months later. Higher symptomatology was also linked to lower perceived leadership support for psychological health 5 months later. Combat exposure had minimal effect on the connections between leader support and symptomatology.

https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2022.2085957

Mental health

Army

Active Duty

Active duty service member

Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Longitudinal Study
Quantitative Study

Bessey, Alexxa F., Black, Kristen Jennings, Britt, Thomas W.

Leader support for psychological health (LSPH) has been identified as an important factor in the prediction of mental health symptoms among warfighters. Although research has examined the relationship between LSPH and mental health symptoms, the extent to which this relationship is bidirectional has been underexplored. Consequently, the present study examined the longitudinal relationships between perceived LSPH and mental health symptoms (depression and PTSD) among military personnel over a 5-month period. We found that perceived LSPH at Time 1 (T1) was associated with fewer mental health symptoms at Time 2 (T2); however, mental health symptoms at T1 were also associated with lower perceptions of LSPH at T2. The results differed slightly based on the type of symptoms experienced, but the relationships between perceived LSPH and symptoms did not vary based on whether soldiers had been exposed to combat. However, it is important to note that the overall sample had low combat experience. Despite this, these findings may suggest that the assumption that leader support can enhance soldier mental health may fail to consider that the symptoms themselves may also affect how leaders are perceived. Therefore, organizations such as the military should consider both directions to optimally understand the relationship between leaders and subordinate mental health.

Taylor & Francis

Article
REACH Publication

Department of Psychology, Clemson University, AFB
Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, KJB
Department of Psychology, Clemson University, TWB