The researchers carried out an analysis of the transversal secondary data using Kessler’s psychological distress scale with 6 elements, which goes beyond non -specific psychological distress and is predictive of diagnosed mental health disorders. They evaluated a serious self -depressed distress among 4,428 members of active service services who used mental health services in the previous year. Survey weights have been applied to ensure that the data was representative of the population in active service, and models of logistics regression were used to explore associations between psychological distress and various socio -demographic factors, in particular the matrimonial state, the level of education and if the military had children.
The study revealed that 39.1% of soldiers using mental health services reported serious psychological distress in the previous year. The corresponding author Anwar E. Ahmed stresses that “similar to what is observed in the general civilian population, a serious psychological distress was correlated with the health behavior of smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and sleep less than 6 hours per night. About three quarters of all people in this cohort have obtained less than 6 hours of sleep per night. A promising conclusion is that there was no significant correlation between serious psychological distress and sex, race / ethnicity, or lesbian / gay / bisexual identity, although additional research is certainly necessary. »»