Investigating certain psychosocial health issues among peacekeeping operation participants
- VernacularTitle:Энхийг сахиулах ажиллагаанд оролцогчдын нийгэм сэтгэцийн эрүүл мэндийн зарим асуудлыг судалсан нь
- Author:
Ulziikhutag N
1
;
2
;
Oyunsuren D
1
;
Khishigsuren Z
1
Author Information
1. Department of Mental Health, SOM, MNUMS
2. NeuroMed private clinic
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Peacekeeping operations;
Anxiety;
Neurosis;
Combat stress;
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder;
Gender differences
- From:
Mongolian Journal of Health Sciences
2026;96(6):200-204
- CountryMongolia
- Language:Mongolian
-
Abstract:
Background:Peacekeeping operations (PKOs) demand not only high professional expertise but also immense physical and psychosocial endurance from military personnel. Comprehensively identifying the psychological health challenges and specific risk factors influencing combat stress is of paramount practical significance for maintaining unit combat readiness.
Aim:This study aims to evaluate the changes in psychosocial health, personality traits, and underlying risk factors for combat stress among personnel during pre-deployment and active deployment phases.
Materials and Methods:A prospective, two-phase longitudinal study was conducted during the pre-deployment training and the subsequent 6-month deployment in UNMISS, South Sudan. Data from 283 personnel who fully completed both phases were analyzed using SPSS via McNemar, Chi-square, Pearson correlation, and multivariable logistic regression.
Result:Participants were predominantly male (92.9%) with a mean age of 28.9±5.8 years. During deployment, neurotic symptoms (33.9%), cognitive decline (15.9%), and sleep disturbances (15.2%) were highly prevalent. Female personnel demonstrated statistically significantly higher rates of neurosis, sleep disorders, and anxiety (p<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms significantly increased the risk of developing combat stress by 4.22 times (aOR=4.22, 95% CI: 1.36-13.16, p=0.013). Furthermore, a prior history of exposure to severe life stressors increased the odds of combat stress by 2.68 times (aOR=2.68, 95% CI: 1.01-7.11, p=0.048).
Conclusion:1. During peacekeeping operations, service members most frequently encounter environmental and domestic challenges related to health, animals, and insects (44.2–44.5%). Furthermore, high rates of anxiety symptoms (>72.0%) and neurotic symptoms (33.9%, significantly higher in women, p<0.05) were reported. Consequently, personnel highly prioritize psychological resilience (59.0%) and teamwork skills (57.6%) in real-world deployment settings.
2. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the primary independent predictors increasing service members’ risk of exposure to combat stress are a personal history of severe life stressors (aOR = 2.68, p=0.048) and the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (aOR = 4.22, p=0.013).
- Full text:202609270054139212235_Энхийг сахиулах ажиллагаанд оролцогчдын нийгэм сэтгэцийн эрүүл мэндийн зарим.pdf
