Examining the mediating role of personality traits in the relationship between psychological empowerment and mental health in soldiers.

Purpose: Paying attention to the psychological characteristics of soldiers is a matter of concern for planners and senior commanders. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the mediating role of personality traits in the relationship between psychological empowerment and mental health in soldiers stationed in the Kerman Province barracks.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, 604 soldiers serving in Kerman Province barracks in the year 2021 were examined. The soldiers were selected from a cluster sampling of two barracks. Data were collected using a demographic information checklist, the Sportzier Psychological Empowerment Questionnaire (PEQ), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and the NEO Personality traits (NEO). Pearson's correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling were used for data analysis. The Judd and Kenny's framework was also employed to investigate the mediating role.

Results: Of these individuals, 390 (46.6%) had completed their military training, while 433 (71.7%) were single. The correlation between PEQ and GHQ was inverse and non-significant (P = 0.348), between PEQ and NEO was direct and significant (P = 0.002), and between NEO and GHQ was inverse and significant (P < 0.001). In the structural equation model, the PEQ variable had a significant impact on NEO (P = 0.002), but it did not significantly affect the GHQ variable (P = 0.850). The NEO variable also had a significant impact on GHQ.

Conclusion: The NEO variable has a full mediation effect on the relationship between PEQ and GHQ. Therefore, the use of psychologists and clinical physicians for appropriate interventions to enhance mental health, such as education, counseling, and psychotherapy, appears to be necessary.