The Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male was an observational study on African-American males in Tuskegee, Alabama between 1932 and 1972. The U. S. Public Health Service ran this study on more than 300 people without notifying the participants about their disease nor treating them even after the introduction of penicillin. The study included recording the progress of disease and performing an autopsy on the deaths. This paper explores historical backgrounds enabled this infamous study, and discusses three driving forces behind the Tuskegee Study. First, it is important to understand that the Public Health Service was established in the U. S. Surgeon General's office and was operated as a military organization. Amidst the development of an imperial agenda of the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the PHS was responsible for protecting hygiene and the superiority of “the American race” against infectious foreign elements from the borders. The U.S. Army's experience of medical experiments in colonies and abroad was imported back to the country and formed a crucial part of the attitude and philosophy on public health. Secondly, the growing influence of eugenics and racial pathology at the time reinforced discriminative views on minorities. Progressivism was realized in the form of domestic reform and imperial pursuit at the same time. Major medical journals argued that blacks were inclined to have certain defects, especially sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis, because of their prodigal behavior and lack of hygiene. This kind of racial ideas were shared by the PHS officials who were in charge of the Tuskegee Study. Lastly, the PHS officials believed in continuing the experiment regardless of various social changes. They considered that black participants were not only poor but also ignorant of and even unwilling to undergo the treatment. When the exposure of the experiment led to the Senate investigation in 1973, the participating doctors of the PHS maintained that their study offered valuable contribution to the medical research. This paper argues that the combination of the efficiency of military medicine, progressive and imperial racial ideology, and discrimination on African-Americans resulted in the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment.
African Continental Ancestry Group ; Alabama ; Autopsy ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Eugenics ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hygiene ; Male ; Military Medicine ; Military Personnel ; Observational Study ; Pathology ; Penicillins ; Philosophy ; Public Health* ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Social Change ; Syphilis ; United States Public Health Service ; United States*

PURPOSE: This study was done to describe the return to work experience of military officers with cancer. METHODS: Individual in-depth interviews with 15 participants were conducted between September 2013 and April 2014. Participants were interviewed 1~4 times; interviews continued until the data became saturated. Data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory. RESULTS: The core category emerged as "living a new life after enduring difficulties". The return to work process consisted of four sequential phases: chaos, positive thought formation, behavior practices, and reformation. Action/interaction strategies used by military officers with cancer to resolve enduring difficulties were controlling emotions, accepting reality, prioritizing health, making efforts to improve relationships, and looking for future jobs. CONCLUSION: These results will promote understanding of military officers' return to work experience following cancer survival, and will be helpful in developing more effective nursing interventions through enhanced perspectives and insights of practitioners.
Adult ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel/*psychology ; Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Return to Work ; Social Support

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To estimate the prevalence and evaluate the associated psychological factors of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in males in their twenties who are currently enrolled in military service. METHODS: A total of 1,073 men in the Korean army were asked to complete questionnaires based on the Rome III criteria and Symptom Checklist-90-revised (SCL-90R). The prevalence of FGIDs was estimated, and the associated psychological factors were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 967 men participated. The total prevalence of FGIDs was 18.5% (age-adjusted prevalence, 18.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 15.3% to 20.8%). The total SCL-90R scores were higher in men with FGIDs than men without FGIDs (24 [interquartile range, 13 to 44] vs 13 [5 to 28], p<0.001) and higher in men with overlapping syndromes than in those with single FGIDs (31 [18 to 57] vs 14 [5.75 to 29], p<0.001). Somatization (odds ratio [OR], 1.141; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.20; p<0.001), obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OR, 1.084; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.14; p=0.002) and depression (OR, 0.943; 95% CI, 0.90 to 0.99; p=0.020) were identified as independent predictive factors for FGIDs. CONCLUSIONS: FGIDs are common among men in their twenties who are fulfilling their military duty. Somatization and obsessive-compulsive features from the tense atmosphere are associated with the development or progression of FGIDs. Patients who exhibit overlapping syndromes require greater attention given their more severe psychopathology.
Depression/complications ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*epidemiology/psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel/psychology/*statistics & numerical data ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/complications ; Prevalence ; Psychopathology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Somatoform Disorders/complications ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Early life stress (ELS) may induce long-lasting psychological complications in adulthood. The protective role of resilience against the development of psychopathology is also important. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among ELS, resilience, depression, anxiety, and aggression in young adults. Four hundred sixty-one army inductees gave written informed consent and participated in this study. We assessed psychopathology using the Korea Military Personality Test, ELS using the Childhood Abuse Experience Scale, and resilience with the resilience scale. Analyses of variance, correlation analyses, and hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted for statistical analyses. The regression model explained 35.8%, 41.0%, and 23.3% of the total variance in the depression, anxiety, and aggression indices, respectively. We can find that even though ELS experience is positively associated with depression, anxiety, and aggression, resilience may have significant attenuating effect against the ELS effect on severity of these psychopathologies. Emotion regulation showed the most beneficial effect among resilience factors on reducing severity of psychopathologies. To improve mental health for young adults, ELS assessment and resilience enhancement program should be considered.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adolescent ; Age Distribution ; Aggression/*psychology ; Anxiety/epidemiology/psychology ; Comorbidity ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel/*psychology/*statistics & numerical data ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; *Resilience, Psychological ; Risk Factors ; Stress, Psychological/*epidemiology/*psychology ; Young Adult

Acupuncture has remarkable effects of pain relieving and functional restoration on injuries of soft tissue and joint due to military training. As more and more attention has been attached to the impact of psychological states and biorhythm disorder on the fighting ability of military staff, acupuncture has found its place in treating chronic fatigue, combat stress reaction, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder as well as regulating circadian rhythms. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture in military training-related physical damage and psychological trauma has already been proved by numerous clinical practices and researches. It is held that using acupuncture as an alternative could not only save medical resources, but also enhance the fighting ability of the army. However, the current clinical studies is facing the problem of limited sample size. Therefore, randomized controlled trials in large scale and multiple centers should be further carried out toward military staff, so as to provide more speaking evidences to the prevention and treatment of physical and psychological diseases.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel ; psychology ; Pain Management ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; therapy ; Wounds and Injuries ; therapy ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the Military Mental Health Promotion Program. The program was an email based cognitive behavioral intervention. METHODS: The research design was a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Participants were 32 soldiers who agreed to participate in the program. Data were collected at three different times from January 2012 to March 2012; pre-test, post-test, and a one-month follow-up test. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 18.0. The effectiveness of the program was tested by repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: The first hypothesis that the level of depression in the experimental group who participated in the program would decrease compared to the control group was not supported in that the difference in group-time interaction was not statistically significant (F=2.19, p=.121). The second and third hypothesis related to anxiety and self-esteem were supported in group-time interaction, respectively (F=7.41, p=.001, F=11.67, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Results indicate that the program is effective in improving soldiers' mental health status in areas of anxiety and self-esteem.
Anxiety ; Cognitive Therapy ; Depression/pathology ; Electronic Mail ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; *Mental Health ; Military Personnel/*psychology ; *Program Evaluation ; Questionnaires ; Self Concept ; Severity of Illness Index ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the cardiovascular responses and coping styles among recruits in psychological stress.

METHODSUsing random cluster sampling method,we chose 406 army recruits in Xinjiang from October 2013 to November 2013,and the questionnaire survey combined with laboratory test was applied. The questionnaire used in this study was the simplified coping style questionnaire. Systolic blood pressure(SPB),diastolic blood pressure(DPB),and heart rate(HR)were recorded. The relationship between cardiovascular responses and coping methods was analyzed using descriptive statistics,correlations,and regression analysis.

RESULTSThere were statistically significant differences in changes of the indicators of cardiovascular responses(P=0.000). The positive coping styles were significantly associated with age(P=0.008)and father's education degree(P=0.010). The negative coping styles were associated with the mother's educational degree(P=0.046). The positive coping styles were associated with the SBP in recall task period(P=0.039)and with the HR in calculating task period(P=0.025). The negative coping styles were significantly associated with the SBP difference between the baseline and calculating task period(P=0.034). Stepwise regression analysis showed that age and father's education degree(P=0.008,P=0.041)had a positive effect on the positive coping styles,and the SPB difference between the baseline and calculating task period had a negative effect on the positive coping styles(P=0.034).

CONCLUSIONSAge and father's education degree can affect the positive coping style of the recruits. Increased psychological stress has a negative impact on the negative coping styles of the recruits.

Adaptation, Psychological ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; psychology ; Regression Analysis ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to explore the scene-trait coping style of military rescuers in Wenchuan earthquake in an effort to provide scientific evidences for mental intervention program for Chinese military personnel.

METHODSBy cluster sampling, a total of 151 military rescuers and 331 control servicemen were administered the military personnel scene-trait coping style scale (MPSTCSS).

RESULTSAll active coping factor scores, and passive coping factor scores of affection, health and economy in the rescuer group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). The 21-above age subgroup, the 3-year plus service subgroup, and the officer subgroup had significantly higher active coping factor scores on military tasks, military experience and personal development than those of the 21-below age subgroup, 3-year minus service subgroup and the soldier subgroup, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe earthquake relief servicemen can cope with stressful situations better than control group by taking active coping style. The officers, servicemen older than 21 years, and servicemen with more service duration than 3 years could usually take active coping style.

Adaptation, Psychological ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; psychology ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify predictors influencing adjustment during army life after analyzing the relationship among relational self, community attitudes toward the mentally ill (CAMI), and adjustment during army life in Korea. METHODS: A cross sectional study design was conducted with 230 soldiers from two military units located in Y and B cities. Data were analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 18.0. RESULTS: Empathy-care showed significantly positive correlations with adjustment during army life. Avoidance of relationships showed significantly negative correlations with adjustment. Negative concepts in CAMI, such as authoritarianism and social restrictiveness, became were getting more negative. Positive concepts in CAMI, such as benevolence and community mental health ideology, were lacking. Significant factors were empathy-care, authoritarianism, overdependence on relations, and social restrictiveness which explained 30.1% (F=8.55, p<.001) of adjustment during army life. CONCLUSION: To improve military adjustment for soldiers, it is necessary to reduce misunderstandings of people with mentally illness as well as to make efforts towards systematic interpersonal relationship interventions for positive evaluation of self and others to enhance the mental health of soldiers.
Authoritarianism ; Beneficence ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Mentally Ill Persons* ; Military Personnel ; Self Psychology* ; Social Adjustment

OBJECTIVETo explore and analyze the cognitive quality of professional divers.

METHODS165 professional divers were tested with Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM), 80.8 Neural Type Measuring Form, etc. with 230 common people, 49 sailors and 66 trainee divers as control.

RESULTSThere were significant difference among professional divers of different ages in the type of nerve activity, cognitive style, action stability, memory span, time reaction, the perception of space, act of attention and dark adaptation (P < 0.05); Over all, the cognitive quality of professional divers did not differ significantly in education level or working years (P < 0.05); Professional divers were superior to the common people in depth perception, cognitive style, act of attention, action stability, the perception of space and dark adaptation, but inferior to them in intelligence, memory span and time reaction (P < 0.05); There were significant difference in such cognitive indicators as the type of nerve activity, depth perception, kinesthetic memory, cognitive style, the perception of space and dark adaptation (P < 0.05); Compared with the trainee divers, professional divers were significantly better in the type of nerve activity, cognitive style, act of attention, action stability and the perception of space (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAs a specified profession, diving needs some particular cognitive quality, while the profession itself would affect professional divers' cognitive ability to a certain extent.

Adult ; Cognition ; Diving ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel ; psychology ; Occupations ; Perception ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult