How Perceived Social Support Moderates Operational Stress and Sexual Satisfaction Among Soldiers
The role of perceived social support has been shown to be important for understanding how individuals cope with stressful situations. This study examines whether this is also true when it comes to military personnel who face operational stress during deployment. Specifically, it looks at how perceived social support from family and friends impacts their level of sexual satisfaction while deployed.
Operational stress refers to the various physical and psychological challenges faced by soldiers while deployed. These can include sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme temperatures, lack of privacy, and witnessing violence and death. All of these factors can have an effect on a soldier's mental health and ability to perform their duties effectively.
They may also lead to changes in sexual functioning, which can further affect overall wellbeing.
Sexual satisfaction, meanwhile, encompasses both intimacy and pleasure during intercourse. It includes emotional connection as well as physical sensations. Research suggests that sexual satisfaction is positively correlated with psychological wellbeing and relationship quality. When soldiers experience high levels of operational stress, however, they may struggle to feel connected or enjoy sex.
Perceived social support, on the other hand, involves feeling cared for and supported by those around you. In previous studies, perceived social support has been linked to lower levels of stress and better coping skills. It is therefore possible that this type of support could moderate the effects of operational stress on sexual satisfaction among soldiers.
Methodology
The researchers recruited 100 male and female soldiers currently serving in a combat unit. They were all between the ages of 18 and 35 years old and had been deployed within the past year. Each participant completed a series of questionnaires at the beginning and end of their deployment period. The measures included:
- Perceived social support - using the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSS)
- Sexual satisfaction - using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)
- Operational Stress Scale (OPSTRESS)
Results
The findings suggest that perceived social support does indeed have an effect on sexual satisfaction among soldiers. Those who reported higher levels of perceived social support tended to experience greater sexual satisfaction than those who did not. This was true even after accounting for age, gender, and time since last deployment.
There was some evidence that different types of perceived social support had unique effects on sexual satisfaction. Specifically, emotional support was more strongly related to sexual satisfaction than instrumental support.
Both forms of support appeared to be important for buffering the negative impacts of operational stress.
Discussion
This study suggests that perceived social support may play a role in mitigating the negative effects of operational stress on soldiers' sexual satisfaction. It is possible that this type of support helps them feel connected to loved ones back home, which can reduce anxiety and improve mood. In turn, these factors could lead to better sexual functioning and overall wellbeing.
Future research should explore whether other forms of social support are also beneficial for soldiers.
It would be interesting to see if spiritual or religious support has a similar effect on sexual satisfaction.
Studies should investigate how different types of deployment affect sexual satisfaction and the moderating role of perceived social support.
How does perceived social support moderate the relationship between operational stress and sexual satisfaction among soldiers?
Perceived social support is considered as a critical factor that affects individual's well-being and performance under high levels of stress (Hui et al. , 2017). Previous studies have found that perceived social support can be an effective buffer against negative effects of stress on mental health outcomes such as depression and anxiety (Chen & Liu, 2020; Hui et al. , 2017).