chapter iii methodology 3.1 introduction 3.2 variables...

86

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

3.1 INTRODUCTION

3.2 VARIABLES AND THEIR OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS

3.3 DESIGN AND HYPOTHESES

3.4 SAMPLE

3.5 TOOLS

3.5.1 STRESS MEASUREMENT SCALE

3.5.2 COPING RESOURCE INVENTORY

3.5.3 ALTRUISM TEST

3.5.4 RELIGIOSITY SCALE

3.5.5 SELF-PERCEPTION INVENTORY

3.6 PROCEDURE

3.7 DATA ANALYSES

3.8 SUMMARY

87

3.1 INTRODUCTION

The present study is designed to gain an insight into combat experiences

and perceptions of serving armed forces personnel of Indian army on certain

important psychological aspects such as stress in routine military life, coping

resources, altruism, religiosity, and self-perception. In present research, responses

of serving combat veterans injured in battle (CVI), serving combat veterans

uninjured in battle (CVU), and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated

as yet into combat (non-combat veterans- NCV) have been compared on

measured variables. This chapter states operational definitions of variables

selected in present study and hypotheses framed to study difference between

several groups of serving military personnel of Indian army. Tools to measure

these aspects have also been described. This chapter states rationale for tools used

for the present study as well as gives description of these tools.

The chapter provides details of sample selected from given population,

procedure for data collection as well as proposed statistical analyses of present

research.

3.2 VARIABLES AND THEIR OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS

The present study attempts to investigate certain important psychological

aspects of serving combat veterans of Indian army.

88

Variables that are examined in the study are as follows:

Stress

Coping resources

Altruism

Religiosity

Self-perception

Operational Definitions

Variables of present study have been operationally defined in this section.

Stress

Stress has been defined as physical and psychological demands and

constraints that impinge on an individual as a result of operating in military

environment (Staal, 2004). In the present study, stress being measured pertains to

perceived stressors of routine military life in operational as well as non-

operational areas.

Stress will be measured on six dimensions in present study. These are as

follows:

1. Cognitive Stress: Cognitive stress is defined as information processing

load placed on the human operator while performing a particular task in a military

environment. It is assumed that cognitive stress increases with task difficulty

(Lively, Pisoni, van Summers, & Bernacki, 1993).

89

2. Occupational Stress: Stress due to demands and constraints of operating in

military environment (Staal, 2004).

3. Physical Stress: Stress accruing due to physical pressure acting on an

individual as a result of performing military duties.

4. Emotional Stress: Emotional stress is psychological and physiological

arousal due to emotions triggered before or during a task while operating in

military environment (Lively et al., 1993).

5. Social Stress: Stress in an individual due to inability to meet social

demands and expectations of family, friends, and significant others due to

exigencies of military service. Social stress results from interruption of the

feedback loop that maintains identity processes (Burke, 1991).

6. Personal Stress: Stress in relation to subjective, internal responses in

appraisal of military environment.

Coping Resources

Coping resources are operationally defined as those resources inherent in

individuals that enable them to handle stressors more effectively, to experience

fewer or less intense symptoms upon exposure to a stressor, or to recover faster in

stressful situation (Hammer & Marting, 1988, p. 2).

In present study, coping resources are measured on five dimensions and

are operationally defined as follows:

90

1. Cognitive Coping Resource: It is defined as the extent to which

individuals maintain a positive sense of self worth, a positive outlook towards

others, and optimism about life in general.

2. Social Coping Resource: It is defined as degree to which individuals are

embedded in social networks that are able to provide support during periods of

stress.

3. Emotional Coping Resource: It is defined as degree to which individuals

are able to accept and express a range of affect based on the premise that range of

emotional responses aid in overcoming long term negative consequences of stress.

4. Spiritual Coping Resource: It is defined as degree to which actions of

individuals are guided by stable and consistent values derived from religious,

familial, or cultural tradition or from personal philosophy. Such values might

serve to define meaning of potentially stressful events and prescribe strategies for

responding effectively.

5. Physical Coping Resource: It is defined as degree to which an individual

enacts health-promoting behavior which may contribute to increase in physical

well being. Physical well being may decrease level of negative response to stress

and enables faster recovery. It may also help attenuate potentially chronic stress-

illness cycle resulting from negative physical responses to stressors that they

themselves become major stressors.

91

Altruism

Altruism has been operationalized as voluntary behavior carried out to

benefit another individual without anticipation of rewards from external resources

and done for its own sake (Baron & Bryne, 1997).

Religiosity

Religiosity indicates degree to which an individual can be identified as

religious. Religiosity has been operationalized as having faith in a power beyond

oneself with which individuals seek to satisfy emotional need and gain stability in

life. An individual expresses religiosity by acts of worship and service (Galloway,

cited in Bhushan, 1990, p.1).

Self-perception

Self-perception is a part of one‟s personality and is multi dimensional in

nature. In present research, self-perception has been measured under two domains

of general adjustment and general maladjustment. One can form clusters of

different subscales and obtain an index of personality patterning (Martin, 1968).

General adjustment gives an overall profile and differentiates between

disturbed and non-disturbed individuals. It comprises of three dimensions and has

been operationalized as follows:

1. Consistency: It is the integrated thought process of an individual that

enables a person to think and act in a coherent way.

92

2. Self actualization: It is striving towards realization of one‟s own potentials

and seeking personal growth.

3. Supervision: It is an individual‟s insight into effective human interaction

and inclination towards leadership role.

General maladjustment gives an overall profile and differentiates between

disturbed and non-disturbed individual. It comprises of six dimensions and has

been operationalized as follows:

4. Rigidity–Dogmatism: It is characterized as inflexibility in attitudes,

arrogant behaviour, and stubborn assertion of personal belief or opinion.

5. Uncommon response: It pertains to presenting oneself in a pathologically

obvious manner, identifying oneself as severely maladjusted individual or

pretending to display psychological disturbance.

6. Authoritarianism: It pertains to rigid conventionalism, aggression, power

aspirations, and destruction.

7. Anxiety: Anxiety is operationally defined as restless, apprehensive, and

agitated behavior.

8. Depression: Depression refers to self-devaluing and emotionally disturbed

behavior.

9. Paranoia: Paranoia is behaviour characterized as having delusions of

grandeur and persecution, ideas of reference, and self-pity.

93

Combat Veterans (CV)

For purpose of present study, combat veterans have been operationally

defined as those serving armed forces personnel of Indian army who have

continuously served for more than 90 days in a combat zone where military

operations have taken place against enemies of the country (e.g. military

operations in Siachen glacier, Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir). They also meet

criteria of having either fired upon enemy or themselves have been fired upon by

enemy with weapons, grenades, mines, or aerial shelling. Combat veterans have

been further classified into two categories. These are as follows:

Combat veterans injured in battle (CVI): Those serving armed forces

personnel who have suffered with any physical disability during military

operations due to any of the following:

Gun shot wound

Mine blast injury

Splinter injury due to enemy shelling

Grenade blast injury.

Combat veterans uninjured in battle (CVU): Those serving armed forces

personnel who despite continuous service for more than 90 days duration in a

combat zone have themselves not suffered with any physical disability due to

enemy action.

94

Non-combat veterans (NCV)

In the present study, non-combat veterans refer to those serving armed

forces personnel who have no combat experience and have not been initiated as

yet into combat zone.

3.3 DESIGN AND HYPOTHESES

The present research is designed to study certain important psychological

aspects of serving combat veterans. Serving armed forces personnel not initiated

as yet into combat (non-combat veterans) have been selected as a comparison

group.

The present research is a 3 x 2 x 2 (types of military personnel with

respect to combat experience x number of years of military service x rank status)

between- subject design.

The subgroups of serving military personnel under study are compared on

variables of stress in routine military life, coping resources, altruism, religiosity,

and self perception.

Hypotheses and Rationale

Certain hypotheses are formulated regarding differences between serving

combat veterans and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into

combat on stress in routine military life, coping resources, altruism, religiosity,

and self perception. These were based on relevant literature on combat veteran

95

experiences and perceptions with reference to variables considered in present

study.

Main hypotheses of the study are:

1. Serving combat veterans injured in battle, serving combat veterans

uninjured in battle, and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet

into combat differ on stress in routine military life.

1a. Serving combat veterans injured in battle perceive lesser stress in

routine military life as compared to other serving armed forces personnel

not initiated as yet into combat.

1b. Serving combat veterans uninjured in battle perceive lesser stress in

routine military life as compared to other serving armed forces personnel

not initiated as yet into combat.

1c. Serving combat veterans injured in battle perceive lesser stress in

routine military life as compared to serving combat veterans uninjured in

battle.



into combat differ on coping resources.

2a. Serving combat veterans injured in battle have better coping resources

as compared to other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet

into combat.

96

2b. Serving combat veterans uninjured in battle have better coping

resources as compared to other serving armed forces personnel not

initiated as yet into combat.

2c. Serving combat veterans injured in battle have better coping resources

as compared to serving combat veterans uninjured in battle.



into combat differ on altruism.

3a. Serving combat veterans injured in battle are more altruistic as

compared to other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into

combat.

3b. Serving combat veterans uninjured in battle are more altruistic as


combat.

3c. Serving combat veterans injured in battle are more altruistic as

compared to serving combat veterans uninjured in battle.



into combat differ on religiosity.

97

4a. Serving combat veterans injured in battle display more religiosity as


combat.

4b. Serving combat veterans uninjured in battle display more religiosity as


combat.

4c. Serving combat veterans injured in battle display more religiosity as

compared to serving combat veterans uninjured in battle.

5. There is no difference in self-perception of serving combat veterans

injured in battle, serving combat veterans uninjured in battle, and other serving

armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat.

6. There is a negative correlation between stress and coping resources

amongst serving combat veterans.

7. There is a negative correlation between stress and altruism amongst

serving combat veterans.

8. There is a positive correlation between stress and religiosity amongst


9. There is a negative correlation between stress and self-perception amongst


Rationale behind hypotheses stemmed from the reasoning that combat

experience changes viewpoint of an individual. Combat veterans attach new

98

meaning to life as has been suggested by review of related literature. With this

background, above hypotheses of differences between serving combat veterans


armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat on the variables under

study have been framed.

Additional analyses will also be carried out by considering number of

years of military service (0-10 and 11-20 years respectively) and rank status

(officer and personnel below officer rank) with respect to measured variables,

namely, stress in routine military life, coping resources, altruism, religiosity, and

self-perception.

3.4 SAMPLE

Total sample for present research constitutes 360 serving armed forces

personnel. The sample includes 120 serving combat veterans injured in battle, 120

combat veterans uninjured in battle, and 120 other serving armed forces personnel

not initiated as yet into combat (non-combat veterans). Each group has a further

split of 60 personnel from range 0-10 years of military service and 60 personnel

from range 11-20 years of military service. In each sub group, 30 officers and 30

personnel below officer rank are included in equal numbers to maintain

homogeneity of groups. The entire sample of serving armed forces personnel is

selected from military cantonment in Pune city. Figure III-1 shows split of entire

99

sample. Since the study has been based on random stratified sampling, study

groups are selected and matched on parameters of types of military personnel with

reference to combat experience, number of years of military service, and rank

status.

All serving armed forces personnel in the present study were selected from

those serving officers and personnel below officer rank (PBOR) who have upto 20

years of military service. Review of studies suggests that individuals in all walks

of life are more fit in range of mid twenty to mid forty years of age after which

other factors like family pressure, supersession, retirement, and resettlement start

coming into play. In army, first twenty years are spent in direct contact with

troops at unit and sub-unit level with greater emphasis on physical training and

conditioning. Besides, more than 90% of fighting army falls in range 0-20 years

of military service and only serving army personnel within this range have been

selected for present study. Military personnel having different rank status perform

different roles and duties and have different responsibilities. It is perceived that

their perceptions too would differ and hence, they have been grouped into officer

rank and personnel below officer rank (PBOR).

Although females are also serving in armed forces, they are not considered

in the present research as they are yet to be inducted into combat. Besides, there

are behavioral differences in gender, hence only males serving in armed forces are

considered in present research.

100

Figure III-1: Figure showing the split of the entire sample.

* PBOR = Personnel Below Officer Rank

Serving Armed

Forces Personnel

N= 360

Serving Armed Forces Personnel

Not Initiated As Yet Into Combat

N= 120

Combat Veterans Injured in

Battle

N= 120

0-10 Years of

Military Service

N= 60

Combat Veterans

Uninjured in Battle

N= 120

11-20 Years of

Military Service

N= 60

Officers

N= 30

PBOR*

N= 30

Officers

N= 30

PBOR*

N= 30

0-10 Years of

Military Service

N= 60

11-20 Years of

Military Service

N= 60

Officers

N= 30

PBOR*

N= 30

Officers

N= 30

PBOR*

N= 30

0-10 Years of

Military Service

N= 60

11-20 Years of

Military Service

N= 60

Officers

N= 30

PBOR*

N= 30

Officers

N= 30

PBOR*

N= 30

101

3.5 TOOLS

A personal data sheet has been developed to obtain basic demographic

information of respondents. It also facilitates in categorizing serving armed forces

personnel into different groups according to their combat experiences including

injury in battle, number of years of military service, and rank status.

Following tools will be used to measure variables under study:

Stress measurement scale (developed by present researcher).

Coping resource inventory (Hammer & Marting, 1988).

Altruism test (Jain, 1989).

Religiosity scale (Bhushan, 1990).

Self-perception inventory (Martin, 1968).

Personal data sheet (developed by present researcher).

Tools used in present study have been previously used in various studies

by their authors as well as by other researchers. In present study, both Indian as

well as foreign tools have been selected based on the requirement. Since not all

serving armed forces personnel selected for present research are fully conversant

with English language, translation of tools in national language, Hindi, has been

done and an option given to respondents to answer in language of their choice.

While all 180 respondents(100%) of officer rank answered in English, 171 out of

180 personnel below officer rank (95%) answered in Hindi with remaining 9

respondents (5%) answering in English.

102

Rationale for selection of these tools and their description are given

below:

3.5.1 Stress Measurement Scale

Most stress in military setting cannot be replicated in civilian life. Hence,

stress measurement scale is specially developed by researcher to cater to peculiar

nature of stress amongst serving armed forces personnel. Review of literature has

also shown that most tools on stress, in India as well as abroad, have been

research specific. Therefore, it appears logical and necessary to construct a tool

measuring stress amongst serving armed forces personnel.

Stress measurement scale is a 5-point rating scale with options ranging

from Extremely stressful (05), Very stressful (04), Stressful (03), Least stressful

(02), to Not at all stressful (01). Stress measurement scale is a list of 120 items

with 60 items measuring stress in peace locations and 60 items measuring stress

in operational locations. Stress measurement scale comprises of 10 items in each

of 6 sub-scales namely cognitive stress, occupational stress, physical stress,

emotional stress, social stress, and personal stress in peace locations as well as in

operational locations. Stress measurement scale gives a total stress score in peace

location and a total stress score in operational location as well as a combined total

stress score for individual. Higher score indicates higher stress. The stress being

measured with this tool pertains to stressors of routine military life in operational

as well as non-operational areas. All items in stress measurement scale measure

103

negative aspects of stress and are scored in same direction. Brief and clear

instructions are printed on stress measurement scale with space provided

alongside each item for encircling appropriate score. Total scores range between

120 and 600. The content and methodology of tool has been discussed with

experts in psychology. Senior military officers as well as specialists in language

from army education corps have also been consulted for translation of tool into

Hindi language with forward and backward translation being resorted to. Changes

in content have been made as per their recommendations before finalizing items

for tool.

Reliability coefficient calculated on pilot testing range from .82 to .86

(Cronbach‟s alpha). A discussion with experts in psychology contributed to

validation of stress measurement scale.

3.5.2 Coping Resource Inventory

Coping resource inventory (CRI) is a Likert-type measure of a person‟s

coping resources (Hammer & Marting, 1988). This inventory contains 60-items

and provides a separate answer sheet. For each item, respondents have to select

any one option from Never (N), Sometimes (S), Often (O), or Always (A) and

mark it on a separate answer sheet.

Coping resource inventory covers 5 domains of resources. Cognitive scale

addresses an individual‟s optimism about life and sense of self-worth. Social scale

measures how much the person feels a part of social networks that one can count

104

on during times of stress. Emotional scale refers to an individual‟s ability to

accept and express emotions. Spiritual or philosophical scale assesses extent to

which an individual is influenced by values from religion, traditions or personal

philosophy. Physical scale covers an individual‟s health-promoting behaviours.

The test provides separate scoring stencils for each of 5 scales. Each item

is scored as Never/Rarely (4), Sometimes (3), Often (2), Always/Almost always

(1). There are 6 items in the test which are scored in reverse order. Total score on

coping resource is computed by adding 5 scale scores. Higher scale score

indicates higher resources.

The authors have reported Cronbach‟s alpha values ranging from .71 to

.34 for five scales; and .91 for total test. Test retests reliability co-efficient for

inventory is reported as .73. With multivariate–multidimensional methods,

convergent and divergent scores of validity fall in .60 to .80 range for subscales.

Thus coping resource inventory has good psychometric properties. It gives

standard instructions and provides tables stating confidence bands for each scale.

This is particularly useful for comparison between 5 different subscales of coping

resources; namely cognitive coping resource, social coping resource, spiritual

coping resource and physical coping resource.

Several researchers have used coping resource inventory in their research

projects and have reported satisfactory reliability index (Meert, Thurston &

Thomas, 2001). Coping resource inventory has been described as a useful tool for

105

identifying individual‟s coping resources from several psychological testing

centers across the world (Hughes, 2006). Reliability coefficient calculated on pilot

testing on the local sample is .87

3.5.3 Altruism Test

Altruism test by Jain (1989) is a useful tool to measure altruistic behaviour

for personality studies. The test is bilingual in English and Hindi. It has a total of

25 items, 20 of which are positively scored and 5 items are negatively scored. For

each item, three alternate responses are provided ranging from Agree (3), Cannot

say (2), to Disagree (1). Respondent‟s altruism score is the algebraic sum of

scores obtained on all different items. As number of items in the test is 25, range

of possible scores on it is from 25 to 75, higher scores indicate greater altruism.

The author has reported Cronbach‟s alpha reliability coefficient of .76.

The tool has been validated against Buss Durkee‟s aggression inventory as well as

Pal and Naqvi‟s aggression inventory and showed correlation coefficients of –.47

and –.52 respectively.

Altruism test has been developed with Indian norms and has wider

application and acceptability in Indian context and hence, has been selected for

study. Another test of altruism by Rai and Singh (1988) has also been considered.

However, it has been rejected since most of test items in the tool pertained to

school and college children and hence, unsuitable for present study.

106

3.5.4 Religiosity Scale

Religiosity scale by Bhushan (1990) is a 5-point Likert-type scale

consisting of 36 items, 25 of which are positively scored and 11 are negatively

scored. For each item, five alternate responses are provided, ranging from Totally

Agree (5), Agree (4), Cannot say (3), Disagree (2), to Totally disagree (1).

Respondent‟s religiosity score is algebraic sum obtained on all different items. As

number of items in scale is 36, range of possible scores on it is from 36 to 180.

Higher scores indicate greater religiosity. Religiosity scale has a reliability

coefficient of .82 which is satisfactory for use as a research tool. The author

reports good predictive validity of test when administered to groups. Also, the test

was validated against „Religious value scale‟ of the Allport–Vernon–Lindzey

study of values. The two test scores yielded a positive correlation of .57 which has

been found to be significant at .001 level and indicates that the test possesses

concurrent validity as well.

Religiosity scale has not been used very widely and so studies relating to it

are not many. Reliability coefficient calculated on pilot testing on local sample is

.84.

3.5.5 Self-perception Inventory

Self-perception inventory by Martin (1968) is an objective test of

personality comprising of 200 items to be answered as either true or false on a

separate answer sheet. It provides information on general adjustment of an

107

individual, comprising of three factors of personality i.e. consistency (29 items),

self-actualization (29 items), and supervision (54 items). It also provides

information on general maladjustment of an individual, comprising of six factors

of personality i.e. Rigidity-dogmatism (10 items), uncommon response (9 items),

authorizationism (26 items), anxiety (16 items), depression (28 items), and

paranoia (26 items). Test provides scoring templates. Higher the general

adjustment score and lower the general maladjustment score, better is individual‟s

self-perception.

The test reports test-retest reliability scores for subscales ranging from .61

to .79. Inter-correlations of subscales range from .51 to .60. Cross-validation

studies of test report good validity of sub-scales. Test has been widely used in

hospitals, organizations, and educational institutions. It has also been used in

several research projects (Martin, 1968). Although test of self-perception is a

relatively older test of personality as compared to recently developed personality

tests as 16PF, MBTI, etc. which are also easily available, self-perception

inventory has been selected for present research since it is a comprehensive tool

measuring several aspects of personality and it provides total scores for general

adjustment as well as general maladjustment of an individual. Reliability

coefficient calculated on pilot testing on local sample is .87.

108

3.6 PROCEDURE

Data for the present study have been first collected for standardization of

newly constructed tool and then again collected for hypothesis testing. Stress

measurement scale has, at first, been administered on a sample of 100 serving

armed forces personnel. Individuals have been randomly chosen from a military

training center which adequately represented military population and only those

individuals have been selected who consented to volunteer and were able to spare

their time. Individuals were made to sit in batches of 20 in a controlled

environment free from any distractions. Clear instructions were communicated

regarding process of completing personal data sheet as well as answering

questionnaire. Adequate time has been given to complete individual responses to

all items. It has been ensured before collection of stress measurement scale that no

item has been left unanswered. Every response sheet has been scored and

responses have then been put through statistical package for social sciences (PC

version 7.5 and 11).

Main Study

Data has been collected from 360 serving armed forces personnel. They

include 240 serving combat veterans (120 of whom were injured in battle and 120

of whom were uninjured in battle) and 120 serving armed forces personnel not

initiated as yet into combat, all posted in Pune city. Pune is one of the largest

military cantonments in the country with various training establishments and

109

military organizations which provides representative sample of the military

population for the present study. After formal and written approval from army

headquarters in New Delhi; permission has been sought from Commandants and

heads of various military institutions in Pune to administer tests. This has been

done in groups of 20 selected individuals who have been then spared of their

military duties and made available for a continuous duration of 5 days to complete

the test in a suitable environment. Serving armed forces personnel have been

selected from those who met criteria of types of military personnel with respect to

combat experience, number of years of military service, and rank status. Rapport

has been established with individuals and before administration of tests their

consent to voluntarily participate has been confirmed. Importance of their sincere

and honest responses has been stressed upon to all individuals. Confidentiality of

their responses has been assured and a request has been reiterated to all

individuals to be as sincere and truthful as possible in responding, especially since

there were no correct or incorrect responses.

A nominal roll of individuals who have volunteered to participate from

given military establishment has been given to the researcher along with basic

details about individuals. Participants for research were randomly selected from

this nominal roll. Accordingly, batches were made of 20 individuals, a day prior

to administration of tests after matching their profile.

110

At first, respondents filled the personal data sheet. On basis of information

obtained from personal data sheet and as per control variables of types of military

personnel with respect to combat experience, number of years of military service

and rank status, their suitability has been confirmed. Respondents have been

approved for further testing and only then tests have been administered. For

standardized tests, they have been given instructions as stated in manual along

with examples regarding how to answer. All doubts have been clarified personally

by the researcher and it has been ensured that instructions were clear and have

been understood by one and all.

Most respondents verbally reported that these tests were generating food

for thought and led to a lot of introspection since this has been a unique

participation they have never experienced before. Though procedure of test

administration has been lengthy and spaced out during five days, respondents

have been very enthusiastic in answering each test. Five officers and eight

personnel below officer rank could not complete all tests due to their suddenly

leaving Pune cantonment on account of various reasons like death in family,

temporary duty, being detailed on long course, leaving for UN mission, telegram

from home, etc. As such their incomplete tests have been rejected and replaced

with randomly selected additional participants who met the criteria.

111

3.7 DATA ANALYSES

Quantitative analyses

The present study involves testing differences and relationships. This

necessitates use of certain statistical techniques that will be applied accordingly

for analyses of data.

Three way (3 x 2 x 2) multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) and

subsequent multiple univariate analyses of variance (ANOVA) will be

implemented to study differences between types of military personnel with

respect to combat experience (serving combat veterans injured in battle, serving

combat veterans uninjured in battle, and other serving armed forces personnel not

initiated as yet into combat), number of years of military service (0-10 years and

11-20 years), and rank status (officer rank and personnel below officer rank) with

respect to measured variables.

Product moment correlation coefficients will be calculated to examine

relationship between stress and measured variables for serving combat veterans.

Chi-square will be calculated to find differences in alcohol consumption

and smoking habits of serving armed forces personnel.

Cronbach‟s alpha reliability analysis will be implemented to calculate

reliability co-efficient for tools on local sample.

112

Qualitative analyses

In present study, two case studies will be conducted to gain an insight and

have an understanding of serving combat veterans. Case studies reported in

present research will be based on information obtained from semi-structured

interviews of serving combat veterans. These case studies will also include

information obtained from parents, spouses and colleagues of serving combat

veterans.

3.8 SUMMARY

The purpose of this research is to investigate experiences and perceptions

of serving combat veterans. Hence, perceptions of serving combat veterans


armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat will be compared. The

present study attempts to examine certain psychological aspects such as stress in

routine military life, coping resources, altruism, religiosity, and self-perception of

serving combat veterans. The study will further endeavor to explore differences

within subgroups made on the basis of types of military personnel with reference

to combat experience, number of years of military service, and rank status.

It is hypothesized that serving combat veterans injured in battle, serving

combat veterans uninjured in battle and other serving armed forces personnel not

initiated as yet into combat would differ on variables selected for study. To test

113

this, data has been collected from 360 serving armed forces personnel (240

combat veterans of which 120 have been injured in battle and 120 who were

uninjured in battle and 120 serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into

combat) posted in Pune military cantonment.

The following tools will be used to test the hypotheses:

Stress measurement scale

Coping resource inventory

Altruism test

Religiosity scale

Self-perception inventory

Personal data sheet.

Information about each tool including its reliability, validity, and

administration has already been stated. Details of newly constructed tool and its

standardization process have also been given. Procedure of administration of

standardized tests has been discussed. This chapter mentions quantitative as well

as qualitative analyses to be implemented in present research.

114

CHAPTER IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 INTRODUCTION

4.2 DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS

4.3 RESULTS OF MANOVA

4.3.1 DIFFERENCES AMONG GROUPS ON STRESS

4.3.2 DIFFERENCES AMONG GROUPS ON COPING

RESOURCES

4.3.3 DIFFERENCES AMONG GROUPS ON ALTRUISM

4.3.4 DIFFERENCES AMONG GROUPS ON RELIGIOSITY

4.3.5 DIFFERENCES AMONG GROUPS ON SELF-

PERCEPTION

4.4 CORRELATION ANALYSES

4.5 CHI-SQUARE ANALYSES

4.5.1 INDEPENDENCE AMONG GROUPS ON ALCOHOL

CONSUMPTION

4.5.2 INDEPENDENCE AMONG GROUPS ON SMOKING

HABITS

4.6 QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

4.7 SUMMARY

115

4.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter deals with analyses of results. The present research attempts

to investigate certain important psychological aspects, namely, stress in routine

military life, coping resources, altruism, religiosity, and self-perception of serving

combat veterans. The present research is conducted to examine the psychological

state of military personnel (serving combat veterans injured in battle (CVI),

serving combat veterans uninjured in battle (CVU), and other serving armed

forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat (non-combat veterans: NCV)),

their responses have been compared on variables under study. To verify the

hypotheses in this context, data of 360 serving armed forces personnel (240

combat veterans of which 120 were injured in battle, 120 who were uninjured in

battle and 120 other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into

combat) has been analyzed and their means, standard deviations, and F-values

have been computed. Normal distribution of sample, linearity of dependent

variables, and homogeneity of variance has been confirmed using statistical

package for social science (SPSS, PC version 7.5). Multivariate analyses of

variance have been carried out to find difference among study groups. To

examine relationship between stress and other variables of present study,

correlation coefficients have been calculated. Correlation between stress and other

dependent variables of the study namely coping resources, altruism, religiosity,

116

and self-perception have also been studied. The obtained results have been

discussed in this chapter.

Chi-square has been calculated to see whether the study groups, namely,

serving combat veterans injured in battle, serving combat veterans uninjured in

battle, and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat

differ in alcohol consumption and smoking habits. Case studies of two serving

combat veterans have been included in the present study.

4.2 DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS

A total of five dependent variables, namely, stress, coping resources,

altruism, religiosity, and self-perception have been covered in this study.

3 x 2 x 2 factorial design has been employed with types of military

personnel with respect to combat experience, number of years of military service,

and rank status as independent variables. Types of military personnel with respect

to combat experience is varied at three levels- serving combat veterans injured in

battle, serving combat veterans uninjured in battle, and other serving armed forces

personnel not initiated as yet into combat. Number of years of military service is

varied at two levels- 0-10 years of military service and 11-20 years of military

service. Similarly, rank status is varied at two levels- officer rank and personnel

below officer rank (PBOR). The 3 x 2 x 2 design results in 12 cells. The cell wise

means and standard deviations for all variables have been presented from Table

IV-1 to Table IV-5.

117

Table IV-1: Descriptive Statistics: Mean and standard deviation for types of

military personnel with respect to combat experience, number of years of

military service and rank status.

S.N. Dependent

Variable

Types of military

personnel with respect

to combat experience

Number of

years of

military

service

Rank status Total

(N=

360)

CVI CVU NCV 0-10

yrs

11-20

yrs Officer PBOR

1 Stress

M 307.75 343.83 361.15 340.71 334.44 322.75 352.40 337.58

SD 68.82 72.87 54.60 72.36 66.33 62.14 73.16 69.39

N 120 120 120 180 180 180 180

2 Coping

Resources

M 179.03 181.19 176.23 178.70 178.93 185.24 172.39 178.82

SD 19.53 20.56 17.70 19.25 19.51 15.97 20.32 19.35

N 120 120 120 180 180 180 180

3 Altruism

M 61.63 61.38 57.02 59.94 60.0 59.56 60.46 60.01

SD 4.05 3.41 4.17 3.92 4.88 4.13 4.66 4.42

N 120 120 120 180 180 180 180

4 Religiosity

M 127.33 129.28 118.88 123.58 126.74 119.36 130.97 125.16

SD 18.74 15.90 14.22 17.35 16.46 14.72 17.11 16.96

N 120 120 120 180 180 180 180

5 General

Adjustment

M 66.58 63.08 61.28 63.74 63.56 64.73 62.57 63.65

SD 5.03 5.42 4.94 6.18 4.92 5.21 5.74 5.57

N 120 120 120 180 180 180 180

6 General

Maladjustment

M 38.73 35.38 39.43 38.98 36.72 28.46 47.23 37.85

SD 11.07 15.64 12.16 12.87 13.43 9.01 9.50 13.18

N 120 120 120 180 180 180 180

CVI- Combat veterans injured in battle.

CVU- Combat veterans uninjured in battle.

NCV- Non-combat veterans.

PBOR- Personnel below officer rank.

118


military personnel with respect to number of years of military service.

S.N. Dependent

Variables

Combat

veterans

injured in

battle (CVI)

Combat

veterans

uninjured in

battle (CVU)

Non-combat

veterans

(NCV)

Entire

sample

Mean

N=

360 0-10 11-20 0-10 11-20 0-10 11-20

1 Stress

M 318.77 296.73 341.43 346.22 361.93 360.37 337.58

SD 67.72 68.70 81.52 63.67 60.89 48.00 69.39

N 60 60 60 60 60 60

2 Coping

Resources

M 174.43 183.62 179.72 182.67 181.95 170.52 178.82

SD 19.02 19.10 19.21 21.89 19.06 14.22 19.35

N 60 60 60 60 60 60

3 Altruism

M 61.22 62.03 60.97 61.80 57.65 56.40 60.01

SD 4.10 3.99 3.01 3.75 3.56 4.65 4.42

N 60 60 60 60 60 60

4 Religiosity

M 118.95 135.72 129.13 129.42 122.67 115.08 125.16

SD 19.52 13.58 16.11 15.83 14.79 12.65 16.96

N 60 60 60 60 60 60

5 General

Adjustment

M 67.93 65.23 62.52 63.65 60.78 61.78 63.65

SD 4.63 5.08 6.31 4.35 5.12 4.75 5.57

N 60 60 60 60 60 60

6 General

Maladjustment

M 40.88 36.57 35.90 34.87 40.15 38.72 37.85

SD 7.85 13.27 16.08 15.30 12.95 11.38 13.18

N 60 60 60 60 60 60

119


military personnel with respect to rank status.

S.N. Dependent

Variables

Combat

veterans

injured in

battle (CVI)

Combat

veterans

uninjured in

battle (CVU)

Non-combat

veterans

(NCV)

Entire

sample

Mean

N=

360 Officer PBOR Officer PBOR Officer PBOR

1 Stress

M 286.03 329.47 326.48 361.17 355.73 366.57 337.57

SD 43.84 81.69 73.23 68.82 44.04 63.35 69.39

N 60 60 60 60 60 60

2 Coping

Resources

M 190.67 167.38 190.58 171.80 174.48 177.98 178.82

SD 11.26 19.16 15.70 20.66 14.98 20.04 19.35

N 60 60 60 60 60 60

3 Altruism

M 61.73 61.52 60.98 61.78 55.97 58.08 60.01

SD 2.46 5.19 3.13 3.66 4.00 4.10 4.42

N 60 60 60 60 60 60

4 Religiosity

M 123.27 131.40 122.63 135.92 112.17 125.58 125.16

SD 16.26 20.26 14.08 14.91 10.74 14.18 16.96

N 60 60 60 60 60 60

5 General

Adjustment

M 66.88 66.28 65.43 60.73 61.87 60.70 63.65

SD 4.02 5.89 5.24 4.54 5.00 4.85 5.57

N 60 60 60 60 60 60

6 General

Maladjustment

M 32.32 45.13 22.67 48.10 30.40 48.47 37.85

SD 8.13 9.88 8.55 9.55 7.35 8.84 13.18

N 60 60 60 60 60 60

120

Table IV-4: Descriptive Statistics: Mean and standard deviation for number

of years of military service and rank status

S.N. Dependent

Variables

0-10 years of

military service

11-20 years of

military service

Entire

sample

Mean

N= 360 Officer PBOR Officer PBOR

1 Stress

M 327.19 354.23 318.31 350.57 337.57

SD 68.00 74.42 55.70 72.25 69.39

N 90 90 90 90

2 Coping

Resources

M 184.30 173.10 186.19 171.68 178.82

SD 14.54 21.69 17.32 18.95 19.35

N 90 90 90 90

3 Altruism

M 59.91 59.98 59.21 60.94 60.01

SD 3.68 4.16 4.53 5.08 4.42

N 90 90 90 90

4 Religiosity

M 116.32 130.84 122.39 131.09 125.16

SD 15.17 16.39 13.66 17.89 16.96

N 90 90 90 90

5 General

Adjustment

M 64.47 63.02 64.99 62.12 63.65

SD 5.87 6.42 4.46 4.96 5.57

N 90 90 90 90

6 General

Maladjustment

M 31.36 46.60 25.57 47.87 37.85

SD 10.28 10.49 6.38 8.40 13.18

N 90 90 90 90

121

Table IV-5: Descriptive Statistics: Means and Standard Deviations

S.N. Dependent

Variable

Combat veterans injured in battle

(CVI)

Combat veterans uninjured in

battle (CVU)

Serving armed forces personnel

not initiated as yet into combat

(Normal)

Entire

sample

Mean

N=

360

0-10 11-20 0-10 11-20 0-10 11-20

O PBOR O PBOR O PBOR O PBOR O PBOR O PBOR

1 Stress

M 293.20 344.33 278.87 314.60 327.20 355.67 325.77 366.67 361.17 362.70 350.30 370.43 337.58

SD 48.04 75.30 38.67 86.30 84.40 77.69 62.01 59.47 49.28 71.50 38.16 54.97 69.39

N 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

2 Coping

Resources

M 186.27 162.60 195.07 172.17 187.13 172.30 194.03 171.30 179.50 184.40 169.47 171.57 178.82

SD 6.16 20.20 13.41 17.07 14.26 20.82 16.53 20.84 19.28 18.85 5.74 19.40 19.35

N 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

3 Altruism

M 62.30 60.13 61.17 62.90 60.43 61.50 61.53 62.07 57.00 58.30 54.93 57.87 60.01

SD 2.17 5.20 2.64 4.89 2.78 3.19 3.40 4.10 3.77 3.26 4.01 4.84 4.42

N 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

4 Religiosity

M 112.33 125.57 134.20 137.23 122.03 136.23 123.23 135.60 114.60 130.73 109.73 120.43 125.16

SD 14.88 21.53 8.32 17.36 15.03 14.08 13.29 15.94 14.35 10.21 4.05 15.81 16.96

N 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

5 General

Adjustment

M 67.07 68.80 66.70 63.77 65.30 59.73 65.57 61.73 61.03 60.53 62.70 60.87 63.65

SD 3.69 5.33 4.37 5.38 6.45 4.82 3.78 4.08 5.52 4.75 4.35 5.02 5.57

N 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

6 General

Maladjustment

M 38.67 43.10 25.97 47.17 23.77 48.03 21.57 48.17 31.63 48.67 29.17 48.27 37.85

SD 3.50 10.14 6.22 9.34 10.49 10.56 6.03 8.60 9.32 10.21 4.47 7.39 13.18

N 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

122

4.3 EVALUATION OF EFFECTS OF TYPES OF MILITARY

PERSONNEL WITH RESPECT TO COMBAT EXPERIENCE, NUMBER

OF YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE AND RANK STATUS: RESULTS

OF MANOVA AND SUBSEQUENT UNIVARIATE ANALYSES

To evaluate main effects and interaction effects of types of military

personnel with respect to combat experience, number of years of military service,

and rank status, three-way MANOVA has been carried out.

In the present analysis Wilks‟ Lambda has been used in interpreting

MANOVA results. The results have been presented as follows:

1. The overall MANOVA for main effects and interaction effects of variables

under study.

2. Separate univariate analyses of variance for each variable to understand

significant effects of dependent variables amongst study groups.

3. Post hoc comparison tests, wherever necessary, using Duncan‟s test and their

interpretation have been used to understand significant differences in

dependent variables amongst study groups.

4. Graphical representation of interactions (for significant only).

123

Table IV-6: Table showing summary of results of MANOVA with types of

military personnel with respect to combat experience, number of years of

military service, and rank status as independent variables and stress in

routine military life, coping resources, altruism, religiosity, general

adjustment, and general maladjustment dimensions of self-perception as

dependent variables.

Source of Variance Wilks’

Lambda F

Hypothesis

df

Error

df p

Types of military personnel

with respect to combat

experience

.525 21.730 12 686 <.001

Number of years

of military service .959 2.445 6 343 <.05

Rank status .389 89.908 6 343 <.001



experience x

Number of years

of military service

.793 7.034 12 686 <.001



experience x Rank status

.783 7.430 12 686 <.001

Number of years of military

service x Rank status .923 4.737 6 343 <.001



experience x Number of

years of military service x

Rank status

.911 2.715 12 686 =.001

124

Results in Table IV-6 reveal that main effect of types of military personnel

with respect to combat experience is highly significant (F (12, 686) = 21.730,

p<.001). The main effect of number of years of military service is also significant

(F (6, 343) = 2.445, p<.05) (Table IV-6). The main effect of rank status is also

highly significant (F (6, 343) = 89.908, p<.001). The table reveals that types of

military personnel combat experience-wise, number of years of military service-

wise and rank status-wise, there are highly significant differences for the

dependent variables.

Types of military personnel with respect to combat experience x number

of years of military service interaction is significant (F (12, 686) = 7.034, p<.001).

Types of military personnel with respect to combat experience x rank status

interaction is highly significant (F (12, 686) = 7.430, p<.001). Number of years of

military service x rank status interaction is also significant (F (6, 343) = 4.737,

p<.001). Types of military personnel with respect to combat experience x years of

military service x rank status interaction is highly significant (F (12, 686) = 2.715,

p= .001).

Since MANOVA effects as revealed by Wilks‟ Lambda are significant,

univariate analyses of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan‟s multiple

comparison test has been carried out. Duncan‟s multiple comparison tests are

carried out wherever analysis of variance indicates significant differences among

125

the group means. Post Hoc tests like Duncan‟s test focus on which of several

variables exhibit the main effect demonstrated by initial analysis (Mertens, 2005).

The results of univariate ANOVAs are presented subsequently.

4.3.1 Differences among groups on stress.

In the present study MANOVA followed by univariate analysis of

variance has been used for finding difference among groups with stress as

dependent variable and types of military personnel (Serving combat veterans

injured in battle (CVI), serving combat veterans uninjured in battle (CVU), and

other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat (non-combat

veterans: NCV)), number of years of military service (0-10 years of military

service and 11-20 years of military service), and rank status (Officer rank and

personnel below officer rank (PBOR)) as independent variables. Further,

Duncan‟s test has also been carried out. The total stress scores comprise of 6

dimensions, namely, cognitive, occupational, physical, emotional, social, and

personal stress. Stress in routine military life has been measured using stress

measurement scale (SMS) developed by present researcher.

126

Table IV-7: Table showing summary of results of Univariate ANOVA with

types of military personnel with respect to combat experience, number of

years of military service, and rank status as independent variables and stress

in routine military life as dependent variable.

Source of Variance Sum of

Squares df

Mean

Square F p



experience

178124.85 2 89062.425 21.625 <.001

Number of years of

military service 3540.669 1 3540.669 .860 NS

Rank status 79121.025 1 79121.025 19.212 <.001



experience x Number of years

of

military service

11783.406 2 5891.703 1.431 NS




17081.450 2 8540.725 2.074 NS


service x Rank status 611.003 1 611.003 .148 NS




of military service x Rank

status

4921.806 2 2460.903 .598 NS

Error 1433209.8 348 4118.419

Total 1728394.0 359

NS= Not Significant

127

Table IV-8: Duncan’s Multiple Comparison Test for Stress.

Types of

Military

Personnel

N

Subset

1 2 3

CVI 120 307.75

CVU 120 343.83

NCV 120 361.15

Sig. 1.000 1.000 1.000




In the present study, it is found that there is significant difference between



with respect to variable stress (F (2, 348) = 21.625, p<.001) (Table IV-7). As

shown in Table IV-8, lower mean score of serving combat veterans injured in

battle (307.75) as compared to other serving armed forces personnel not initiated

as yet into combat (361.15) indicates that serving combat veterans injured in

battle perceive lesser stress in routine military life as compared to other serving

armed forces not initiated as yet into combat. Thus, hypothesis 1a, stated as,

serving combat veterans injured in battle perceive lesser stress in routine military

life as compared to other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into

combat, has been accepted.

128

Table IV-8 reveals that serving combat veterans uninjured in battle have

lower mean score (343.83) as compared to other serving armed forces personnel

not initiated as yet into combat (361.15). This indicates that serving combat

veterans uninjured in battle perceive lesser stress in routine military life as

compared to other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat.

Thus, hypothesis 1b, stated as, serving combat veterans uninjured in battle

perceive lesser stress in routine military life as compared to other serving armed

forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat, has been accepted. Definitely,

impact of war stressors cannot be eliminated from life of combat veterans. As a

result, back to routine military life will certainly be less stressful than war

situation (Bramsen et al., 2002).

The finding of present research is in consonance with related research

literature. Research studies have reported that combat experiences are perceived

positively by veterans in the sense of personal growth, thereby reducing their

perception of war stressors (Antonovsky, 1987; Bartone, 2005; Frankl, 1973).

Researchers have also noticed that soldiers trained for combat are frustrated if not

sent to the warfront (Mehlum & Weisaeth, 2002; Weisaeth & Sund, 1982). Some

research studies indicate that the combat veterans perceive lesser stress in routine

military life as compared to other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as

yet into combat (Aldwin et al., 1994; Antonovsky & Bernstein, 1986; Breznitz &

Eshel, 1983; Collins, Taylor, & Skokan, 1990; Elder & Clipp, 1989).

129

Researchers have noticed that war situations are definitely more stressful

than routine military life (Green, Grace, Lindy, & Gleser, 1990; Hobfoll et al.,

1991; Solomon, 1993, 1995; Wardak, 1993). Combat veterans have faced

stressful situations and experienced psychological and physical stress in actual

battlefield (Mehrotra, 2006). However, some research studies have reported

higher stress amongst combat veterans as compared to nonveterans (Frey-

Wounters & Laufer, 1986; Kulka et al., 1990). Bower (1984) stated that this is

probably due to violent experience in war situation and lack of empathy from

others on their return. Evidence on stress and combat experience shows that as

compared to life in combat zone, military personnel in routine military life find

themselves exposed to cumulative stress resulting from boring missions and

ambiguity often present in peacekeeping operations (Carlstrom, Lundin, & Otto,

1990; Elklit, 1998, Huffman, Adler, & Castro, 1999).

From Table IV-8, it is found that serving combat veterans injured in battle

have lower mean score (307.75) as compared to serving combat veterans

uninjured in battle (343.83). This indicates that serving combat veterans injured in

battle perceive lesser stress in routine military life as compared to serving combat

veterans uninjured in battle. Thus, hypothesis 1c, stated as, serving combat

veterans injured in battle perceive lesser stress in routine military life as compared

to serving combat veterans uninjured in battle, has been accepted. This is,

perhaps, due to their being placed in sheltered appointments with sedentary duties

130

only to be performed due to their battle injury. This, understandably, is less

stressful (Chibber, 1986; Srivastava, 2006).

The F value (F (1, 348) = .860) (Table IV-7) of military personnel with

respect to number of years of military service is not significant for stress.

However, the F value (F (1, 348) = 19.212, p<.001) of military personnel

with respect to rank status is significant for stress. The results from Table IV-1,

reveals that mean score of officers (322.75) is lower than mean score of personnel

below officer rank (352.40). This indicates that there are differences in perception

of stress amongst officers and personnel below officer rank, probably due to

differences in training standards and higher educational levels. Findings of the

present study have yielded similar results from previous research (Farrell, 1990;

Goel, 2005; Jones, Roberto, Hooper, & Wesseley, 2006; Kroesen, 2001;

MacIntyre, 1998; Spielberger & Reheiser, 1994).

Types of military personnel with respect to combat experience in

interaction with number of years of military service has not yielded significant

source of variance (F (2, 348) = 1.431) (Table IV-7) in stress.

The F ratio (F (2, 348) = 2.074) pertaining to interaction effect of types

of military personnel with respect to combat experience and rank status is not

significant in stress.

Number of years of military service in interaction with rank status has not

yielded significant source of variance (F (1, 348) = .148) in stress.

131

The F ratio (F (2, 348) = .598) pertaining to interaction effect of types of

military personnel with respect to combat experience, number of years of military

service and rank status is not significant in stress.

Thus, studies stated earlier support finding of present study that serving

combat veterans perceive lesser stress in routine military life as compared to other

serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat.

4.3.2 Differences among groups on coping resources.

In the present study, MANOVA followed by univariate analysis of

variance has been used for finding difference among groups with coping

resources as dependent variable and types of military personnel (Serving combat

veterans injured in battle (CVI), serving combat veterans uninjured in battle

(CVU), and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat

(non-combat veterans: NCV)), number of years of military service (0-10 years of

military service and 11-20 years of military service), and rank status (Officer rank

and personnel below officer rank (PBOR)) as independent variables. The total

coping resource scores comprise of 5 dimensions, namely, cognitive, social,

emotional, spiritual, and physical coping resources.

132



years of military service, and rank status as independent variables and

coping resources as dependent variables.


Squares df

Mean

Square F p



experience

1482.917 2 741.458 2.619 NS

Number of years of

military service 4.900 1 4.900 0.17 NS

Rank status 14873.878 1 14873.878 52.532 <.001




of military service

6707.817 2 3353.908 11.846 <.001




12341.439 2 6170.719 21.794 <.001


service x Rank status 246.678 1 246.678 .871 NS




of military service x Rank

status

284.606 2 142.303 .503 NS

Error 98531.667 348 283.137

Total 134473.90 359

NS= Not Significant

F-value (F (2, 348) = 2.619) (Table IV-9) for serving combat veterans


133

armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat is not significant on

coping resources.

Thus, hypothesis 2a, stated as, serving combat veterans injured in battle

have better coping resources as compared to other serving armed forces

personnel not initiated as yet into combat, has been rejected.

Also, hypothesis 2b, stated as, serving combat veterans uninjured in battle

have better coping resources as compared to other serving armed forces personnel

not initiated as yet into combat, has been rejected.

Hypothesis 2c, stated as, serving combat veterans injured in battle have

better coping resources as compared to serving combat veterans uninjured in

battle, has also been rejected. Thus, findings of the present study indicate no

difference in coping resources of serving combat veterans injured in battle, serving

combat veterans uninjured in battle, and other serving armed forces personnel not

initiated as yet into combat. This is probably due to tough military training

imparted to all military personnel which enhances their coping resources. It has

been seen in the present study that all the three groups have scored high on coping

resources. These findings are in consonance with other research studies (Bartone,

1996; Fontana & Rosenheck, 1998; Schnurr et al., 1993).

Evidence from the present study indicates that there is no difference

between combat veterans and non-combat veterans on coping resources. Review

of literature reveals that although lots of studies have been carried out which deal

134

with stressors of combat, findings with respect to coping resources of combat

veterans is in short supply. However, while few research studies have reported

that combat veterans have better coping resources (Aldwin et al., 1994; Bartone,

1996; Britt et al., 2005; Hautamaki & Coleman, 2001; Jennings et al., 2006;

Seudfeld, 1997) other research studies have shown contradictory findings (Bjorck

& Klewicki, 1997; Green et al., 1989; Hyer et al., 1996).

The F value (F (1, 348) = 0.17) (Table IV-9) of military personnel with

respect to number of years of military service is not significant for coping

resources.

However, the F value (F (1, 348) = 52.532, p<.001) of military personnel

with respect to rank status is significant for coping resources. In the present study,

as shown in Table IV-1, mean score of officer (185.24) is higher as compared to

mean score of personnel below officer rank (172.39). This indicates that officers

have better coping resources as compared to personnel below officer rank,

probably due to differences in training and resilience. Evidence from the present

study has yielded similar results as previous research (Goel, 2005; Jones et al.,

2006; MacIntyre, 1998; Spielberger & Reheiser, 1994). Few studies have,

however, reported results which contradict findings of present study (Cotton,

1981; Kumar & Mishra, 2006).

Interestingly, types of military personnel with respect to combat

experience in interaction with number of years of military service has yielded

135

significant source of variance (F (2, 348) = 11.846, p<.001) (Table IV-9) in

coping resources. The findings from Table IV-2 reveal that serving combat

veterans injured in battle with 11-20 years of military service have highest mean

score (183.62). This indicates that they have better coping resources as compared

to other groups. The findings also reveal that serving armed forces personnel not

initiated as yet into combat with 11-20 years of service have the least mean score

(170.52), indicating that they have the least coping resources as compared to other

groups. While, neither types of military personnel with respect to combat

experience nor number of years of military service have been found to be

significant on coping resources in the present study, their interaction has yielded

significant source of variance as mentioned earlier. This is probably due to the

crucial interplay of combat experience and years of service of these soldiers. This

interaction is graphically represented in Graph 1.

The F ratio (F (2, 348) = 21.794, p<.001) (Table IV-9) pertaining to

interaction effect of types of military personnel with respect to combat experience

and rank status is significant in coping resources. In the present study, as shown in

Table IV-3, serving combat veterans injured in battle from officer rank (190.67)

and serving combat veterans uninjured in battle from officer rank (190.58) have

scored higher mean scores. Thus, they have better coping resources as compared

to other groups since higher the mean score, better are the coping resources. The

findings reveal that serving combat veterans injured in battle from personnel

136

below officer rank have lowest mean score (167.38), indicating that they have

least coping resources amongst groups. While, types of military personnel with

respect to combat experience is not significant on coping resources in the present

study, rank status has been found to be significant, hence, rank status plays an

important role in the interaction between the two which has yielded significant

source of variance as mentioned earlier. This interaction is graphically

represented in Graph 2.


yielded significant source of variance (F (1, 348) = .871) (Table IV-9) in coping

resources.



service and rank status is not significant in coping resources.

137

Graph 1: Graph showing types of military personnel with respect to combat

experience x number of years of military service

DV: Coping Resources

Types of Military Personnel

NCVUCVI

Me

an

Co

pin

g R

eso

urce

s

186

184

182

180

178

176

174

172

170

168

Years of Service

0-10

11-20

138


experience x rank status

DV: Coping Resources


NCVUCVI

Me

an

Co

pin

g R

eso

urce

s

200

190

180

170

160

Rank Status

Officer

PBOR

139

4.3.3 Differences among groups on altruism.

In the present study, MANOVA followed by univariate analysis of

variance has been used for finding difference among groups with altruism as







Duncan‟s test has also been carried out. Altruism has been measured using

altruism test by Jain (1989).

140




altruism as dependent variables.


Squares df

Mean

Square F p

Types of military personnel with

respect to combat experience 1608.539 2 804.269 55.727 <.001

Number of years of


Rank status 72.900 1 72.900 5.051 <.05


respect to combat experience x


service

86.117 2 43.058 2.983 =.05



Rank status

82.117 2 41.058 2.845 NS


service x Rank status 62.500 1 62.500 4.331 <.05




service x Rank status

73.717 2 36.858 2.554 NS

Error 5022.467 348 14.432

Total 7009.956 359

NS= Not Significant

141

Table IV-11: Duncan’s Multiple Comparison Test for Altruism.

Types of Military

Personnel N

Subset

1 2

NCV 120 57.03

CVU 120 61.38

CVI 120 61.63

Sig. 1.000 .622




In the present study, it is found that there is a significant difference

between serving combat veterans injured in battle, serving combat veterans


into combat with respect to variable altruism (F (2, 348) = 55.727, p<.001) (Table

IV-10). Results from Table IV-11 reveal higher mean score of serving combat

veterans injured in battle (61.63) as compared to other serving armed forces

personnel not initiated as yet into combat (57.03). This indicates that serving

combat veterans injured in battle are more altruistic as compared to other serving

armed forces not initiated as yet into combat. Thus, hypothesis 3a, stated as,

serving combat veterans injured in battle are more altruistic as compared to other

serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat, has been

accepted. It is probable that serving combat veterans injured in battle tend to be

more altruistic than other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into

combat due to positive affect in aftermath of combat which is found to be

142

predicted by response patterns of self-disclosure, finding meaning in survival

despite injury, and altruism.

In the present study, Table IV-11 reveals higher mean score of serving

combat veterans uninjured in battle (61.38) as compared to other serving armed

forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat (57.03). This indicates that

serving combat veterans uninjured in battle are more altruistic as compared to

other serving armed forces not initiated as yet into combat. Thus, hypothesis 3b,

stated as, serving combat veterans uninjured in battle are more altruistic as

compared to other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat,

has been accepted. This is in consonance with previous research studies which

have reported that hardship and danger in combat gives birth to altruism and

generosity that transcend ordinary individual self-interest (Khan, 2006a; Kishon-

Barash et al., 1999).

The mean score of serving combat veterans injured in battle (61.63) as

compared to serving combat veterans uninjured in battle (61.38) indicates that

there is no difference between the two groups on altruism. Thus, hypothesis 3c,

stated as, serving combat veterans injured in battle are more altruistic as

compared to serving combat veterans uninjured in battle, has been rejected.

Serving combat veterans injured in battle as well as serving combat veterans

uninjured in battle have displayed equally high scores in altruism. This is

probably because both the groups of combat veterans find altruism as a useful

143

strategy as a means for coping with trauma of combat experience which

jeopardizes sense of meaning and bond with others.

Findings of present study are in consonance with previous research

literature (Baum, 2001; Kishon-Barash et al., 1999; Midlarsky & Kahana, 1994).

Results suggest that combat veterans (injured in battle and uninjured) tend to be

more helpful without anticipation of any reward in comparison to other serving

armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat. Combat veterans seem to

think about how their behavior will benefit others and derive pleasure just by

helping others.

Research studies have reported combat veterans to be more altruistic than

non-combat veterans who may have not yet undergone the bonding of group

formative experience (Hinde, 1993; Payne, Bettmann, & Johnson, 1992; Shaw &

Wong, 1989; Stern, 1995). Research studies have stated that this is probably due

to strong emotional bonding experience, cohesion, mutual cooperation and close

association in combat.

Other research studies have reported that war calls upon individuals to

make altruistic sacrifices out of loyalties and some times even give their lives to

defend their nation (Anderson, 1983; Druckman, 1993; Posen, 1993; Stern, 1995).


respect to number of years of military service is not significant for altruism.

144

The F value (F (1, 348) = 5.051, p<.05) of military personnel with respect

to rank status is significant for altruism. In the present study, as shown in Table

IV-1, mean score of personnel below officer rank (60.46) is higher as compared to

mean score of officers (59.56) on altruism. This indicates that personnel below

officer rank are more altruistic as compared to officers. However, Kumar and

Mishra (2006) reported contradictory findings.


interaction with number of years of military service has yielded significant source

of variance (F (2, 348) = 2.983, p=.05) (Table IV-10) in altruism. In the present

study, as shown in Table IV-2, serving combat veterans injured in battle with 11-

20 years of military service have highest mean score (62.03) which indicates that

they are more altruistic as compared to other groups. Findings also reveal that

serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat with 11-20 years

of military service have lowest mean score (56.40), indicating that they are least

altruistic amongst groups. In the present study, while types of military personnel

with respect to combat experience has yielded significant source of variance,

number of years of military service has not yielded significant source of variance

on altruism. However, their interaction has yielded significant source of variance

as mentioned earlier. This is probably due to the crucial interplay of combat

experience of soldiers and their years of military service. This interaction is

graphically represented in Graph 3.

145

The F ratio (F (2, 348) = 2.845) (Table IV-10) pertaining to interaction

effect of types of military personnel with respect to combat experience and rank

status is not significant in altruism.

Number of years of military service in interaction with rank status has

yielded significant source of variance (F (1, 348) = 4.331, p<.05) in altruism.

Results from Table IV-4 reveal that personnel below officer rank with 11-20 years

of military service have highest mean score (60.94) which indicate that they are

comparatively most altruistic amongst groups. Findings also reveal that officers

with 11-20 years of military service have lowest mean score (59.21) indicating

that they are comparatively least altruistic amongst groups. While number of

years of military service has not yielded significant source of variance on altruism

in the present study, rank status of military personnel has yielded significant

source of variance. However, interaction between number of years of military

service and rank status has yielded significant source of variance as mentioned

earlier. This is probably due to the crucial interplay of years of military service

and rank status. This interaction is graphically represented in Graph 4.


effect of types of military personnel with respect to combat experience, number of

years of military service and rank status is not significant in altruism.

Research studies have noticed that fighting a war creates a situation,

wherein, on one hand enemy is to be killed whereas own countrymen need to be

146

protected, even at cost of soldiers risking their lives for others (Baum, 2001).

However, Bradshaw et al. (1994), reported lack of altruism among combat

veterans for any enemy killed or wounded. Research trend shows that altruism

towards fellow-countrymen helps combat veterans to reduce their stressful

experience (Kahana et al., 1988; Midlarsky, 1991). The psychological impact of

helping each other may be higher amongst combat veterans due to their combat

experiences than that of serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into

combat.

Thus, studies stated above support findings of present study that there is

significant difference between combat veterans (injured in battle and uninjured)

and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat with

respect to variable altruism.

147



DV: Altruism


NCVUCVI

Me

an

Altru

ism

63

62

61

60

59

58

57

56

Years of Service

0-10

11-20

148

Graph 4: Graph showing number of years of military service x rank status

DV: Altruism

Rank Status

PBOROfficer

Me

an

Altru

ism

61.5

61.0

60.5

60.0

59.5

59.0

Years of Service

0-10

11-20

149

4.3.4 Differences among groups on religiosity.

In the present study MANOVA followed by univariate analysis of

variance has been used for finding difference among groups with religiosity as







Duncan‟s test has also been carried out. Religiosity has been measured using

religiosity scale by Bhushan (1990).

150




religiosity as dependent variables.


Squares df

Mean

Square F p



experience

7338.939 2 3669.469 17.709 <.001

Number of years of

military service 896.178 1 896.178 4.325 <.05

Rank status 12133.611 1 12133.611 58.557 <.001




of military service

9265.072 2 4632.536 22.357 <.001




544.539 2 272.269 1.314 NS


service x Rank status 762.711 1 762.711 3.681 NS




of military service x Rank status

264.206 2 132.103 .638 NS

Error 72109.400 348 207.211

Total 103314.66 359

NS= Not Significant

151

Table IV-13: Duncan’s Multiple Comparison Test for Religiosity.

Types of Military

Personnel N

Subset

1 2

NCV 120 118.88

CVI 120 127.33

CVU 120 129.28

Sig. 1.000 .296




In the present study, as can be seen from Table IV- 12, there is significant

difference between serving combat veterans injured in battle, serving combat

veterans uninjured in battle, and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated

as yet into combat on religiosity (F (2, 348) = 17.709, p<.001). Higher mean score

of serving combat veterans injured in battle (127.33) as compared to other serving

armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat (118.88) indicates that

serving combat veterans injured in battle display more religiosity as compared to

other serving armed forces not initiated as yet into combat (Table IV-13). Thus,

hypothesis 4a, stated as, serving combat veterans injured in battle display more

religiosity as compared to other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as

yet into combat, has been accepted. Greater religiosity amongst serving combat

veterans injured in battle as compared to other serving armed forces personnel not

initiated as yet into combat has been reported in research studies which account

for psychotherapeutic effects of religiosity amongst injured soldiers (Rudnick,

152

1997). However, few research studies have reported contradictory findings

(Misra, 2006) while, still other studies, have found no relation between surviving

injury in battle and religiosity of military personnel (Gallaway, 1988; Koing et al.,

2006).

Higher mean score of serving combat veterans uninjured in battle (129.28)

as compared to other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into

combat (118.88) indicates that serving combat veterans uninjured in battle display

more religiosity as compared to other serving armed forces personnel not initiated

as yet into combat (Table IV-13). Thus, hypothesis 4b, stated as, serving combat

veterans uninjured in battle display more religiosity as compared to other serving

armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat, has been accepted.

Findings of the present studies are in consonance with other studies which have

stated that religiosity provides greater sense of meaning, purpose, connectedness,

and understanding amongst combat veterans and hence they display greater

religiosity as compared to non-combat veterans (Bhandal, 2007; Govadia, 2006a;

Meisenhelder, 2002; Schumm & Rotz, 2001; Singh, 2006a).

The mean score of serving combat veterans injured in battle (127.33) as

compared to serving combat veterans uninjured in battle (129.28) indicates that

there is no significant difference between the two groups on religiosity (Table IV-

13). Thus, hypothesis 4c, stated as, serving combat veterans injured in battle

display more religiosity as compared to serving combat veterans uninjured in

153

battle, has been rejected. Serving combat veterans injured in battle as well as

serving combat veterans uninjured in battle have displayed approximate equally

high scores in religiosity. This is probably because both groups of combat

veterans find religion to be beneficial in dealing with stressful combat experience

and this leads to deepening of religiosity. However, few studies have reported that

injured soldiers tend to lose faith in God due to battle injury which challenges

their inner resources (Fontana & Rosenheck, 2004; Misra, 2006).

The F value (F (1, 348) = 4.325, p<.05) (Table IV-12) of military

personnel with respect to number of years of military service is significant for

religiosity. The mean score of military personnel with 11-20 years of military

service (126.74) is higher than mean score of military personnel with 0-10 years

of military service (123.58) which indicates that military personnel with more

number of years of military service tend to be more religious (Table IV-1). More

research studies need to be carried out to replicate findings of present study with

respect to number of years of military service on religiosity.


personnel with respect to rank status is significant for religiosity. The results from

Table IV-1 reveal that higher mean score of personnel below officer rank (130.97)

as compared to officers (119.36) indicates that personnel below officer rank are

more religious than officers.

154



of variance (F (2, 348) = 22.357, p<.001) (Table IV-12) in religiosity. In the

present study, as shown in Table IV-2, serving combat veterans injured in battle

with 11-20 years of military service have highest mean score (135.72) which

indicates that they display more religiosity and are most religious amongst groups.

Findings reveal that serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into

combat with 11-20 years of military service have lowest mean score (115.08)

indicating that they are least religious amongst groups. Since types of military

personnel with respect to combat experience as well as number of years of

military service have showed significant source of variance as stated earlier, it is

understandable that interaction between the two is significant as well. This

interaction is graphically represented in Graph 5.


effect of types of military personnel with respect to combat experience and rank

status is not significant in religiosity.


yielded significant source of variance (F (1, 348) = 3.681) in religiosity.



service and rank status is not significant in religiosity.

155

Findings of the present study are supported by similar findings in previous

literature. Results reveal that serving combat veterans have more faith in power

beyond themselves and they indulge in acts of worship and service, more than

other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat.

The findings may be attributed to the fact that although military personnel

are trained for war, they may find certain things out of their control in actual

combat situations. They are often exposed to death and disability of own friends

and colleagues. These combat experiences may induce greater religiosity among

combat veterans as compared to other serving armed forces personnel not initiated

as yet into combat who have not yet experienced stressors of combat. Schumm

and Rotz (2001) studied combat veterans during Persian Gulf War and reported

more intrinsic religiosity and an internal commitment to their religious beliefs as

compared to other military personnel.

Research studies have reported that combat veterans are more religious

since it may have a positive effect in coping with war and provides a sense of

confidence, assurance and serenity in the face of negative events which make

adjustment to war smoother (Moracco, 1983; Oweini, 1998; Patai, 1973)

However, few research studies have found that many combat veterans lost

their faith in religion and have deep feeling of anger towards God (Barton, &

LaPierre, 1997; Brende, & McDonald, 1989; LaPierre, 1997; Mahedy, 1986;

156

O‟Nell, 1999; Siemon-Netto, 1990). The researchers stated that this may probably

be a temporary effect of unresolved grief and anger, frustration and survivor guilt.

Thus, majority of studies support finding of present study on variable

religiosity.

157



DV: Religiosity


NCVUCVI

Me

an

Re

lig

iosity

140

130

120

110

Years of Service

0-10

11-20

158

4.3.5 Differences among groups on self-perception.

In the present study, self-perception has been measured on two

dimensions, namely, general adjustment and general maladjustment using self-

perception inventory (SPI) by Martin (1968). Higher scores on adjustment and

lower scores on maladjustment indicate better self-perception. MANOVA

followed by univariate analysis of variance has been used for finding difference

among groups with self-perception (general adjustment and general

maladjustment separately) as dependent variable and types of military personnel

(Serving combat veterans injured in battle (CVI), serving combat veterans

uninjured in battle (CVU), and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated

as yet into combat (non-combat veterans: NCV)), number of years of military

service (0-10 years of military service and 11-20 years of military service), and

rank status (Officer rank and personnel below officer rank (PBOR)) as

independent variables. Further, Duncan‟s test has also been carried out separately

for general adjustment and general maladjustment dimension of self-perception.

159




general adjustment dimension of self-perception as dependent variables.


Squares df

Mean

Square F p


respect to combat experience 1743.200 2 871.600 36.936 <.001

Number of years of


Rank status 418.178 1 418.178 17.721 <.001




service

284.022 2 142.011 6.018 <.01



Rank status

296.156 2 148.078 6.275 <.01


service x Rank status 45.511 1 45.511 1.929 NS




service x Rank status

153.689 2 76.844 3.256 <.05

Error 8211.933 348 23.598

Total 11155.900 359

NS= Not Significant

160

Table IV-15: Duncan’s Multiple Comparison Test for General Adjustment.

Types of

Military

Personnel

N

Subset

1 2 3

NCV 120 61.28

CVU 120 63.08

CVI 120 66.58

Sig. 1.000 1.000 1.000




161




general maladjustment dimension of self-perception as dependent variables.


Squares Df

Mean

Square F p



experience

1122.839 2 561.419 8.034 <.001

Number of years of

military service 460.136 1 460.136 6.585 =.01

Rank status 31715.669 1 31715.669 453.863 <.001




of military service

192.539 2 96.269 1.378 NS




2410.106 2 1205.053 17.245 <.001

Number years of military

service x Rank status 1120.069 1 1120.069 16.029 <.001




of military service x

Rank status

1061.206 2 530.603 7.593 =.001

Error 24318.033 348 69.879

Total 62400.597 359

NS= Not Significant

162

Table IV-17: Duncan’s Multiple Comparison Test for General

Maladjustment.

Types of Military

Personnel N

Subset

1 2

CVU 120 35.38

CVI 120 38.73

NCV 120 39.43

Sig. 1.000 .512

CVI- Combat veterans injured in battle



Test of self-perception is a self-reported personality test. Subscale of test

measure two major dimensions, namely, adjustment of an individual and

maladjustment of an individual. Results have been calculated separately for these

two dimensions.

Finding of the present study on general adjustment dimension of self-

perception reports that there are significant differences between serving combat

veterans injured in battle, serving combat veterans uninjured in battle, and other

serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat (F (2, 348) =

36.936, p<.001) (Table IV-14). Higher mean score of serving combat veterans

injured in battle (66.58) as compared to serving combat veterans uninjured in

battle (63.08) and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into

163

combat (61.28) indicates that serving combat veterans injured in battle are better

adjusted and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat

are least adjusted amongst groups (Table IV-15). Higher score on adjustment

indicates better perception of self.


respect to number of years of military service is not significant for general

adjustment dimension of self-perception.

The F value (F (1, 348) = 17.721, p<.001) of military personnel with

respect to rank status is significant for general adjustment dimension of self-

perception. Higher mean score of officers (64.73) as compared to personnel below

officer rank (62.57) as shown in Table IV-1 indicates that officers are better

adjusted and have better perception of self as compared to personnel below officer

rank.



of variance (F (2, 348) = 6.018, p<.01) (Table IV-14) in general adjustment

dimension of self-perception. Serving combat veterans injured in battle with 0-10

years of military service have highest mean score (67.93) (Table IV-2) which

indicates that they have better perception of self and are better adjusted as

compared to groups. Findings reveal that serving armed forces personnel not

initiated as yet into combat with 0-10 years of military service have least mean

164

score (60.78) indicating that they are least adjusted and have poorer perception of

self. This interaction is graphically represented in Graph 6.

The F ratio (F (2, 348) = 6.275, p<.01) (Table IV-14) pertaining to

interaction effect of types of military personnel with respect to combat experience

and rank status is significant in general adjustment dimension of self-perception.

Serving combat veterans injured in battle from officer rank (66.88) as well as

personnel below officer rank (66.28) have higher mean score indicating that they

are better adjusted and have higher perception of self amongst groups (Table IV-

3). Serving combat veterans uninjured in battle from personnel below officer rank

(60.73) as well as serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat

from personnel below officer rank (60.70) have least score indicating that they

have poorer perception of self amongst groups. This interaction is graphically


However, number of years of military service in interaction with rank

status has not yielded significant source of variance (F (1, 348) = 1.929) (Table

IV-14) in general adjustment dimension of self-perception.

The F ratio (F (2, 348) = 3.256, p<.05) pertaining to interaction effect of

types of military personnel with respect to combat experience, number of years of

military service and rank status is significant in general adjustment dimension of

self-perception. Serving combat veterans injured in battle with 0-10 years of

military service from personnel below officer rank have highest mean score

165

(68.80) (Table IV-5). Thus, they are better adjusted and have better perception of

self amongst groups. Serving combat veterans uninjured in battle with 0-10 years

of military service from personnel below officer rank have least score (59.73)

indicating that they are least adjusted and have poorer perception of self.

Findings of the present study on general maladjustment dimension of self-

perception reports that there are significant differences between serving combat

veterans injured in battle, serving combat veterans uninjured in battle, and other

serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat (F (2. 348) =

8.034, p<.001) (Table IV-16). In the present study, as shown in Table IV-17

lower mean score of serving combat veterans uninjured in battle (35.38) as

compared to serving combat veterans injured in battle (38.73) and other serving

armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat (39.43) indicates that

serving combat veterans uninjured in battle are least maladjusted and other

serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat are most

maladjusted amongst groups. Lower score on maladjustment indicates better

perception of self.

The F value (F (1, 348) = 6.585, p=.01) (Table IV-16) of military

personnel with respect to number of years of military service is significant for

general maladjustment dimension of self-perception. Lower score of military

personnel with 11-20 years of military service (36.72) as compared to military

personnel with 0-10 years of military service (38.98) indicates that military

166

personnel with 11-20 years of military service have better perception of self

(Table IV-1).


personnel with respect to rank status is significant for general maladjustment

dimension of self-perception. Lower mean score of officers (9.01) as compared to

personnel below officer rank (9.50) indicates that officers are better adjusted and

have better perception of self as compared to personnel below officer rank (Table

IV-1).


interaction with number of years of military service has not yielded significant

source of variance (F (2, 348) = 1.378) (Table IV-16) in general maladjustment

dimension of self-perception.

The F ratio (F (2, 348) = 17.245, p<.001) pertaining to interaction effect of

types of military personnel with respect to combat experience and rank status is

significant in general maladjustment dimension of self-perception. As shown in

Table IV- 3, serving combat veterans uninjured in battle from officer rank have

lowest mean score (22.67). This indicates that they are better adjusted and have

better perception of self as compared to groups, since, lower the mean for

maladjustment, better is the self-perception. Mean score of serving armed forces

personnel not initiated as yet into combat from personnel below officer rank

(48.47) and serving combat veterans uninjured in battle from personnel below

167

officer rank (48.10) are higher on general maladjustment indicating that they have

poorer perception of self amongst groups. This interaction is graphically


Number of years of military service in interaction with rank status has

yielded significant source of variance (F (1, 348) = 16.029, p<.001) (Table IV-16)

in general maladjustment dimension of self-perception. Officers with 11-20 years

of military service have lowest mean score (25.57) (Table IV-4). This indicates

that they are least maladjusted and have better perception of self since lesser the

score on maladjustment, better is the self-perception. Findings also reveal that

personnel below officer rank with 11-20 years of military service have highest

mean score (47.87) on maladjustment indicating that they are the most

maladjusted amongst groups and have least perception of self. This interaction is

graphically represented in Graph 9.

The F ratio (F (2, 348) = 7.593, p=.001) (Table IV-16) pertaining to

interaction effect of types of military personnel with respect to combat

experience, number of years of military service, and rank status is significant in

general maladjustment dimension of self-perception. Serving combat veterans

uninjured in battle with 11-20 years of military service from officer rank have

lowest mean score (21.57) (Table IV-5). This indicates that they are better

adjusted and have better perception of self as compared to groups. Finding also

reveals that serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat with

168

0-10 years of military service from personnel below officer rank have highest

score (48.67) on maladjustment indicating that they are most maladjusted

amongst groups and have lowest perception of self.

Higher scores on adjustment and lower scores on maladjustment indicate

better self-perception. Hypothesis 5, stated as, there is no significant difference in

self-perception of serving combat veterans injured in battle, serving combat

veterans uninjured in battle, and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated

as yet into combat, has been partially accepted. The results indicate that combat

veterans injured in battle and combat veterans uninjured in battle have high self-

actualizing motives, an integrated thought process and good insight into effective

human interaction. No significant difference has been observed between combat

veterans injured in battle and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as

yet into combat on general maladjustment. However, significant differences were

found between combat veterans uninjured in battle and other serving armed forces

personnel not initiated as yet into combat on maladjustment. Serving combat

veterans uninjured in battle have lower mean score (35.38) as compared to mean

score of other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat

(39.43). Significant differences were also found between combat veterans

uninjured in battle and combat veterans injured in battle on maladjustment.

Serving combat veterans uninjured in battle have lower mean score (35.38) as

compared to combat veterans injured in battle (38.73). Result reveals that

169

perception regarding experiences of anxiety, depression, and paranoia does not

significantly differ among combat veterans injured in battle and other serving


In other words, serving combat veterans have better perception of self as

compared to serving non-combat veterans with respect to adjustment. However,

serving combat veterans uninjured in battle display least maladjustment as

compared to serving combat veterans injured in battle and serving non-combat

veterans. In the present study it has also been seen that, military personnel with

11-20 years of service have better perception of self as compared to military

personnel with 0-10 years of service. The present study also reveals that officers

have better perception of self as compared to personnel below officer rank.

Findings of the present study on self-perception of combat veteran (injured

and uninjured) has great implication from point of view of military life. In fact,

most research studies have reported that effective use of coping resources and

positive coping strategies lead to better adjustment in normal military life of

combat veterans (Bartone, 2005; Green et al., 1988; Hyer et al., 1996). Besides

perceived stress and effective coping resources are other important aspects of

combat veterans for their adjustment (Card, 1983; Fiedler et al., 2000; Gimbel &

Booth, 1994; Pavalko & Elder, 1990; Rindfuss & Stephen, 1990; South, 1985;

Voydanoff, 1990). As already observed earlier, in the present study, mean scores

of combat veterans injured in battle and combat veterans uninjured in battle are

170

lesser on stress in routine military life and higher on coping resources (Table IV-

1) as compared to other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into

combat. As a result, they have shown better adjustment than other serving armed

forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat. Few research studies have even

found low level of maladjustment among combat veterans (Gifford, Ursano,

Stuart, & Engel, 2006; Michel, Lundin, & Larson, 2003). Gaupp (cited in Lerner,

2000, p. 27) reported that maladjustment occurred less frequently in battlefront

soldiers than those behind the lines.

Appy (1993) reported that combat experience leaves soldiers with a sense

of control and feeling of self-actualization for a job well done which increases

their self-perception.

Several studies have stated that due to critical experiences of combat,

military personnel have problems in their adjustment after experience of combat

(Bower, 1997; DeFanzio, 1975; Egendorf et al., 1981; Haley, 1974; Laufer,

Thomas, Frey-Wouters, & Donnellan, 1981; Laufer et al., 1984; Newby et al.,

2005; Roemer, Litz, Orsillo, Ehlich, & Friedman, 1998; Southwick, Morgan,

Nicolaou, & Charney, 1997; Strange & Brown, 1970). Research studies have

reported that effect of traumatic experiences of war lead to maladjustment among

combat veterans (Davies, 2001; Hunt & Robbins, 2001b).

However, despite a large body of research supporting the notion that, war

stress precipitate adjustment problems amongst combat veterans, a considerable

171

number of studies contradict this finding and support findings of the present

research (Harel, Kahana, & Kahana, 1988; Rachman, 1990).

Research studies from previous literature support as well as contradicts

finding of present research on self-perception. This is because adjustment of

combat veterans cannot be taken in solitude. Besides, adjustment of combat

veterans depend on factors such as perceived stress, coping resources and

strategies, recovery from traumatic experiences, family acceptance and

homecoming experience, to name a few.

To sum up, research studies stated earlier support the finding of self-

perception. In the present study, it has been found that serving combat veterans

(injured and uninjured) have better self-perception as compared to other serving


172



DV: General Adjustment dimension of Self-perception


NCVUCVI

Me

an

Ge

ne

ra

l A

dju

stm

en

t

70

68

66

64

62

60

Years of Service

0-10

11-20

173



DV: General Adjustment dimension of Self-perception


NCVUCVI

Me

an

Ge

ne

ra

l A

dju

stm

en

t

68

67

66

65

64

63

62

61

60

Rank Status

Officer

PBOR

174



DV: General Maladjustment dimension of Self-perception


NCVUCVI

Me

an

Ge

ne

ra

l M

ala

dju

stm

en

t

50

40

30

20

Rank Status

Officer

PBOR

175

Graph 9: Graph showing number of years of military service x rank status

DV: General Maladjustment dimension of Self-perception

Rank Status

PBOROfficer

Me

an

Ge

ne

ra

l M

ala

dju

stm

en

t

50

40

30

20

Years of Service

0-10

11-20

176

4.4 CORRELATION ANALYSES

In the present study, correlation coefficient between stress and other

variables have been calculated using Pearson‟s product-moment correlation

method.

Hypothesis 6, 7, 8 and 9 have been verified by calculating coefficient of

correlation between stress and other variables of the present study.

Table IV-18: Table showing product moment correlation coefficient between

stress and other variables of the study for serving combat veterans (N= 240).

** Correlation is significant at 0.01 level.

* Correlation is significant at 0.05 level.

Variable Coefficient

Stress

Coping

resources

-.165*

Stress

Altruism .018

Stress

Religiosity -.022

Stress

General

Adjustment

-.316**

Stress

General

Maladjustment

.206**

177

As shown in Table IV-18, there is a significant negative correlation

between stress and coping resource (r = -.165, p < .05). The findings of the

present study indicate that higher the stress perceived, lower are the coping

resources with an individual. Thus hypothesis 6, stated as, there is a negative

correlation between stress and coping resources amongst serving combat veterans,

has been accepted.

Research studies have reported that combat veterans who are better in use

of coping resources perceived lesser stress (Lambert et al., 2003; Lincoln,

Chatters, & Taylor, 2003). Martin and Brantley (2004) reported a negative

correlation between stress and coping resources. Researchers have reported that

stressors were negatively related to coping resources of interpersonal relations

which are most powerful predictors of individual soldier‟s combat performance

(Bliese & Britt, 2001; Shirom, 1976).

Mehrotra (2006) and Misra (2006) also found a negative relation between

stress and coping resources among military personnel. Thus, research findings on

stress support findings of the present study.

In the present study, there is no significant correlation between stress and

altruism (r = .018) (Table IV-18). Thus hypothesis 7, stated as, there is a negative

correlation between stress and altruism amongst serving combat veterans, has

been rejected. The research evidence on relationship between stress and altruism

suggests that stress and altruism are positively correlated (Batson, 1991; Cialdini

178

et al., 1981; Eisenberg, Michelle, & Jerry, 1998; Penner, Dovidio, Piliavin, &

Schroeder, 2005; Piliavin et al., 1981). Research studies have reported that

individuals act altruistically to reduce their own negative emotional state in times

of stress. Kishon-Barash et al., (1999), reported a positive correlationship between

stressors of combat and altruism. Similar findings were reported by other research

studies (Laufer et al., 1984; Todorov, 1996; Wilson, 1986).

Research studies have reported that altruism is sometimes seen as a way to

elevate own mood and reduce stress by engaging in altruistic acts in the hope that

it will make individual feel better (Baumann, Cialdini, & Kenrick, 1981; Clark &

Isen, 1982; Mahoney, 2002; Post, 2005). However, in the present research, no

significant correlation was noted between stress and altruism. Besides cultural

factors, this could probably be attributed to Indian military value of commitment

to others, high sense of internalized moral and social responsibility inculcated

during military training and as a result, altruism does not have a significant impact

in perception of stress.

In the present study, there is no significant correlation between stress and

religiosity (r = -.022) (Table IV-18). Thus, hypothesis 8, stated as, there is a

positive correlation between stress and religiosity amongst serving combat

veterans, has been rejected.

On the basis of research trend religiosity is positively correlated with

stress (Koenig, George, & Siegler, 1998; Lindenthal, Myers, Peppers, & Stein,

179

1970; McRae, 1984; Meisenhelder, 2002; Pargament, 1990; Rychlak, 1998), it

has been hypothesized that there is a significant positive correlation between

stress and religiosity amongst serving combat veterans.

However, few research studies have found an inverse relationship between

stress and religiosity (Chapman, 1987; King & Schafer, 1992; Schumm & Rotz,

2001; Spilka, Shaver, & Kirkpatrick, 1985). It is very difficult to conclude upon

the relationship between religiosity and stress. In the present research, no

significant correlation has been found between stress and religiosity amongst

serving combat veterans. The probable reason may be that as combat veterans

have reported good coping resources, as a result religiosity may not play an

important role in perception of stress.

In the present study, there is significant negative correlation between

stress and general adjustment dimension of self-perception (r = -.316, p < 0.01)

(Table IV-18). Also, there is significant positive correlation between stress and

general maladjustment dimension of self-perception (r = .206, p < 0.01). Thus,

hypothesis 9, stated as, there is a negative correlation between stress and self-

perception amongst serving combat veterans, has been accepted.

Few research studies have reported that positive coping and posttraumatic

growth facilitates psychological adjustment (Oaksford, Frude, & Cuddihy, 2005).

Previous research literature has reported a negative correlationship between stress

and adjustment and an improved emotional functioning in those combat veterans

180

who cope with stressors of their traumatic memories with problem focused and

non-avoidant coping (Mikulincer, Florian, & Weller, 1993; Wolfe et al., 1993).

Similar findings were reported by other researchers also (Kelly, 2005; Litz, 2005).

Bowen and Orthner (1986) found that reduced stress levels are positively

correlated with adjustment to exigencies of military life. Similar findings were

reported by other research studies (Bowen, 1981; Carr, Orhtner, & Brown, 1980).

Research studies have reported positive correlation between stress and

maladjustment amongst combat veterans (Orcutt, King, & King, 2003; Schafer,

Caetano, & Clark, 1998; Straus & Gelles, 1990; Straus & Kantor, 1994; Zeller,

2005).

Researchers have stated that perception of stress is positively correlated

with maladjustment among individuals (Dohrenwend, 2000; Kulka et al., 1990;

Morgan, 1997; Roemer et al., 1998; Southwick et al., 1997). Numerous studies

have established a causal relationship between war stress and an array of

psychiatric disorders (Belenky, 1987; Day & Sadek, 1982; Hayman,

Sommers_Flanagan, & Parsonsm, 1987; Keane, Scott, Chavoya, Lamparski, &

Fairbank, 1985; Oweini, 1998). Research studies have reported a positive

correlation between stress of combat amongst war veterans and their

maladjustment due to coping with traumatic memories primarily with emotion

focused and avoidance strategies (Green et al., 1988; Hyer et al., 1996).

181

Thus, research findings on adjustment pattern and stress supports the

finding of present study.

4.5 CHI-SQUARE ANALYSES

In the present study, chi-square analysis has been done to check

independence between attributes (serving combat veterans and other serving

armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat) on alcohol consumption

and smoking habits.

4.5.1 Independence among groups on alcohol consumption

Chi-square analyses has been conducted to see whether combat veterans

and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat differ

with respect to drinking habits.

Table IV-19: Table showing values for drinkers and non-drinkers amongst

combat veterans (CV) and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated

as yet into combat (non-combat veterans: NCV) (N = 360).

Drinkers Non-Drinkers N Chi-Square

CV 153 87 240 27.78***

NCV 77 43 120

*** p < .001

In the present study, it is seen that chi-square value is 27.78 (Table IV-19)

which is highly significant indicating that combat veterans reported higher

182

drinking habits as compared to other armed forces personnel not initiated as yet

into combat.

Table IV- 20: Table showing values for drinkers and non-drinkers amongst

combat veterans injured in battle (CVI) and combat veterans uninjured in

battle (CVU) (N = 240).

Drinkers Non-Drinkers N Chi-Square

CVI 79 41 120 18.52***

CVU 74 46 120

*** p < .001


which is highly significant indicating that combat veterans injured in battle

reported higher drinking habits as compared to combat veterans uninjured in

battle.

4.5.2 Independence among groups on smoking habits.

Chi-square analyses has also been conducted to see whether combat

veterans and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat

differ with respect to smoking habits.

183

Table IV- 21: Table showing values for smokers and non-smokers amongst

combat veterans (CV) and other serving armed forces personnel not initiated

as yet into combat (non-combat veterans: NCV) (N = 360).

Smokers Non-Smokers N Chi-Square

CV 74 166 240 36.1***

NCV 55 65 120

*** p < .001


which is significant indicating that combat veterans and other serving armed

forces personnel not initiated into combat do not resort to smoking as there are

more non-smokers than smokers. It is seen that armed forces personnel not

initiated as yet into combat tend to smoke more than combat veterans.

Research studies have found that combat veterans consume alcohol as a

coping strategy to deal with restricted personal freedom, deployment in dangerous

combat zone for long duration and absence from family (Bray, Fairbank, &

Marsden, 1999; Watanabe, Harig, Rock, & Koshes, 1994).

Research studies have reported an approximate 50% increase in smoking

as well as alcohol consumption among military personnel in combat as compared

to peacetime (Britt & Adler, 1999; Hotopf et al., 2003a, 2003b; Schunkit et al.,

2001; Sridhar et al., 2003).

Few research studies have reported more alcohol consumption amongst

combat veterans with lesser years of military service and found them to be at

184

higher risk for alcohol abuse (Ames, Curadi, & Moore, 2002; Kennedy & Zillmer,

2006).

Researchers have reported that more combat veterans were medically

evacuated towards end of Vietnam War for alcohol and substance abuse than for

war wounds (Reinstein, 1972; Stanton, 1976; Watanabe et al., 1994). However,

consumption of alcohol by combat veterans has been reported to be less during

Gulf war since Muslim tradition of host nation Saudi Arabia forbade consumption

of alcohol (Watanabe et al., 1994; Kennedy & Zillmer, 2006).

Researchers have reported an increased consumption of alcohol by combat

veterans during times of war as compared to peacetime (Bray et al., 2003).

Research studies have reported that consumption of alcohol affects

mission readiness and performance of combat veterans in battle (Fisher,

Hoggman, Austin-Lane, & Kao, 2000).

4.6 CASE STUDIES

Two case studies have been considered in this research in an attempt to

have a better understanding of serving combat veterans. While both serving

combat veteran in the case studies are young officers who have been injured in

battle, they represent two ends of the stress continuum. Information stated in case

studies concentrates on experience in lives of serving combat veterans and have

185

focused on their perception. Case studies reported in present research are based on

information obtained from semi-structured interviews of serving combat veterans.

Case Study I

Capt. RD is a 24 year old serving combat veteran with three years of

military service. The officer lost his left arm barely two years after being

commissioned in an Infantry battalion, when his patrolling party was ambushed

by Afghani mercenaries along line of control in Jammu and Kashmir. The

individual survived the attack in which five of his soldiers were killed and along

with him, three others injured. His arm had to be amputated from the shoulder due

to gunshot wound which developed gangrene.

The officer belongs to a middle class family from Rajasthan. He has two

unmarried younger sisters staying with his widowed mother who is a government

employee in a nationalized bank.

Capt. RD has the highest stress score and the least religiosity score

amongst officers. With respect to coping resources, his score has been below

average mean score. However, his altruism score is surprisingly high as also his

maladjustment score in dimension of self-perception.

During the course of the interview, Capt. RD reported that he found it very

difficult to adjust to military life after his combat experience. He held himself

responsible for death of his colleagues in combat and felt remorseful that he

survived while they could not. At the same time, he found that he had to shoulder

186

responsibilities of his aging mother and college going sisters. Capt. RD stated that

he felt disturbed due to his physical disability with which he had not yet come to

terms. Capt. RD reported that he felt embittered that „this should have happened

to me,‟ and that he had lost faith in God.

Capt. RD confessed that he feels „astonished by his bouts of angry moods‟

and often „goes into a shell‟ by avoiding interaction with people. The officer is

unable to maintain good working relations with his colleagues and often gets into

futile arguments.

Interaction with Capt. RD‟s colleagues confirmed his emotional outbursts

and vacillating temperament on return from combat zone. During course of the

interview, his colleagues and course mates who knew him from cadet days during

training in National Defence Academy (NDA) suggested that Capt. RD could not

overcome the grief stemming from loss of soldiers in military operations. They

reiterated that Capt. RD always assumed complete responsibility for tasks

entrusted to him. However, they noticed a marked shift in his attitude towards

work wherein Capt. RD would only work when he felt like working; this often led

to unwanted delays in the performance of tasks. His colleagues also reported on

his recent helping behavior towards others, a disposition he was lacking during

training in the academy.

Interview with the mother revealed that she had high expectation from

Capt. RD ever since she lost her husband in a train accident when her son was in

187

10th

standard. She admitted that she was reluctant in letting him join the army but

agreed to his demand with a heavy heart when he persisted with his choice of

career. The mother reported that ever since his tenure in the combat zone, Capt.

RD had developed an aversion to loud noise and would dive to the ground to take

cover from unseen enemies on hearing any loud noise.

She stated that at times, Capt. RD would wake up in the middle of the

night, sweating profusely, with bad dreams and nightmares of his ambush

experience.

(Capt. RD has been visiting a rehabilitation counselor in a military

research and referral hospital and has shown slight improvement in the past six

months.)

Case Study II

Capt. AB is a 26 year old serving combat veteran with four years of

military service. The individual joined Indian Military Academy, Dehradun

after completing graduation and has been commissioned in an

Infantry battalion.

Capt. AB is wheel-chair bound ever since he suffered splinter injuries

during enemy shelling on „line-of-control‟ in Siachen glacier, the highest

battlefield in world. The officer could only be medically evacuated from the post

(at an altitude of 21000 ft) after 23 days of injury as inclement weather and

snowstorms prevented casualty evacuation at air-maintained post. During this

188

period, his condition deteriorated, despite best efforts of nursing assistant on post.

One month later, he was operated and both his legs amputated from knees. After

six months of hospitalization, Capt. AB has been posted in a sheltered

appointment in a static military formation. Two years later, the officer married his

childhood friend; they presently live with their 1 month old babygirl.

Capt. AB belongs to an agricultural family from Punjab; his father is a

well-to-do farmer while his mother is a homemaker. Capt. AB is the youngest son

of his parents; his elder brother is serving as a doctor in the army.

Capt. AB reported that he was motivated to join the armed forces ever

since childhood; all his maternal uncles and cousins were also donning military

uniform with pride. During military training he represented Indian Military

Academy, Dehradun and Services in shooting at National shooting championship,

where he was awarded gold medal as best shooter.

Capt. AB has been commissioned in one of the oldest infantry battalion of

the Mahar regiment. With a rich military tradition of over 200 years; grooming

the young officer in battalion received much attention. Accordingly, Capt. AB has

been imparted rigorous military training and ethos, wherein individual needs and

wants are subjugated to collective good of regiment and country. Since Capt. AB

has been markman and excellent shooter, he has also been officer-in-charge of

regiment as well as army shooting team.

189

Within 1 year of commissioning and on return from commandos course in

which he excelled; Capt. AB‟s battalion was slated for induction to the Siachen

glacier. Accordingly, the battalion moved to high altitude warfare school for

specialized training and acclimatization in extreme cold climate. Capt. AB

reported that before combat experience, he was not religious at all, though he

admitted to altruistically helping villagers in remote areas with materialistic and

manpower resources that could be spared by the battalion.

However, after experiencing combat in the glaciated war-zone, Capt. AB

reported that his perception changed considerably. When enemy troops killed two

soldiers from his company during patrolling, he was seething with rage and

retaliated by attacking and blowing up enemy bunker with heavy machine gun-

fire and rocket launchers. The soldiers on the other post had become quite

religious after the first casualty and before moving out for any patrolling, would

pray and invoke blessing of God for courage and protection.

Accordingly, Capt. AB too prayed with the troops to honour their

sentiments and religious feelings. He soon realized the importance and crucial

role of religiosity in helping one overcome fear and placing one in hands of God.

Thereafter, Capt. AB started praying on regular basis even when there was no

patrol party leaving the post. Two months later, Capt. AB was injured in enemy

shelling on his post and subsequently evacuated by helicopter.

190

Capt. AB reported that although the injury sustained in military operations

did change and impact his life tremendously, it also made him realize the

immense support and backing of the organization which made him feel worthy

and wanted. The officer reported that the army furnished adequate facilities,

stimulation, guidance, and encouragement which opened new windows of

opportunities and allowed him to invest the requisite drive and determination.

According to Capt. AB, the organization looks after a disabled veteran and

rehabilitates the injured soldier in sheltered appointments. All that is required for

an injured soldier is to recognize his worth and potential and utilize the

facilitation of the army which calls for maximum striving by the soldier.

According to Capt. AB, it is a peculiar imperative responsibility of every soldier

who has incurred a disability in combat to explore the reaches of one‟s

potentiality: his purpose is not to convince himself as to what he cannot do, but to

discover how many things he can do, and which of these he enjoys most. Being

fond of sports, Capt. AB has started playing wheel-chair basketball for an hour

daily, this gives him great satisfaction and joy, besides keeping him fit. In his

spare time, he enjoys gardening and reading books on nature and wildlife.

Capt. AB shared his view that the height an injured soldier achieves are

won by his own efforts. Capt. AB hoped that the attention of family, friends, and

community will be riveted not on the handicap due to battle injury, but on the

soldier and the potentialities and hope he brings.

191

Interview with Capt. AB‟s spouse revealed that although they have been

married for two years now, she has known Capt. AB for over 15 years as they

studied together in the same school. Mrs. SB stated that her husband is very

strong willed and has a lot of determination. She revealed that he has overcome

his initial stage of disbelief on becoming confined to a wheel-chaired after

amputation of his legs and has now accepted his physical disability. She reported

that Capt. AB has adjusted himself in the light of his physical condition and now

intends to pursue a course in rehabilitation. According to Mrs. SB, Capt. AB is

unfettered by routine stressors of living and he values life more and displays

better social relations with family and friends. She reported that he has also

become more religious than what she had known him to be before his induction

into combat zone; this perhaps provides him a means of promoting greater well-

being and adjustment.

Interview with the mother reveal that ever since his return from combat

zone in Siachen glacier, Capt. AB‟s deep faith in God has increased

tremendously. When questioned about Capt. AB‟s helping nature, she reported

that both her sons have always gone out of the way to help others, a disposition

they inherited from grandparents.

192

4.7 SUMMARY

The main objectives of the study have been to investigate certain

psychological aspects of serving combat veterans. The responses of serving

combat veterans injured in battle, serving combat veterans uninjured in battle, and

other serving armed forces personnel not initiated as yet into combat have been

compared by using multivariate analyses of variance. The results showed that



significantly differed from each other on all the measured variables except coping

resources. The obtained results have been discussed in light of research studies on

measured variables.

Further subgroups of military personnel based on number of years of

service have been compared on all the variable selected in the present study by

using univariate analyses of variance. In the present study it has been found that

military personnel from the range 0-10 years of military service significantly

differ on military personnel from the range 11-20 years of military service on all

the measured variables. Also, officers and personnel below officer rank have been

compared on the measured variables by using univariate analyses of variance. In

the present study it has been found that officers and personnel below officer rank

significantly differ on the measured variables. The chapter has discussed results

obtained from findings of present study.

193

Correlation between stress and other variables for combat veterans have

been discussed in this chapter. It has been found that stress is significantly

correlated with variables of coping resources and self-perception in the present

study. It has been found that stress is not correlated with variables of altruism and

religiosity in the present study.

Results of chi-square analyses indicate that more number of combat

veterans tend to consume alcohol as compared to non-combat veterans. Also,

more combat veterans injured in battle tend to consume alcohol as compared to

combat veterans uninjured in battle. With respect to smoking, non-combat

veterans tend to smoke more than combat veterans.

The chapter also includes two case studies of serving combat veterans.

Thus, this chapter discussed the results obtained from quantitative and

qualitative analyses of the present study.

chapter iii methodology 3.1 introduction 3.2 variables...

Documents