Experience of military psychologists working with service members affected by combat-related psychological trauma

Abstract

This study examines the occupational stressors, emotional distress, and psychological fatigue experienced by military psychologists working with service members affected by combat-related trauma. The research identifies key predictors of fatigue and burnout, providing evidence-based recommendations for improving mental health support for military psychologists. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was employed, involving 120 military psychologists deployed in high-conflict zones. Participants were recruited from military hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and veteran support programs. Psychometric tools used included the Professional Resilience Questionnaire, Job Search Behaviors Scale, Negative Affect at Work Scale, Organizational Stressors Scale, Quantitative Workload Scale, and Fatigue Assessment Scale. Data collection occurred in two phases: initial assessments post-deployment and a six-month follow-up. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression models. The findings reveal that organizational stressors (β = 0.37, p < 0.01) and negative affect at work (β = 0.29, p < 0.05) are the strongest predictors of fatigue among military psychologists. Contrary to expectations, professional resilience did not significantly buffer against fatigue (β = -0.12, p = 0.07), suggesting that resilience alone is insufficient in preventing occupational burnout. Job search behaviors and workload intensity had no significant impact on fatigue levels, implying that psychological stressors, rather than workload per se, drive exhaustion. The study underscores the need for institutional reforms, including leadership engagement, administrative burden reduction, and structured resilience training. Additionally, the impact of moral and ethical concerns on military psychologists’ emotional distress necessitates further research on moral injury and ethical dilemmas in military mental health care.