Combat is known to be an extremely stressful environment that can lead to mental health problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, which in turn can impair social functioning and result in negative effects on marital quality. Sexual intimacy has been shown to provide both physical and psychological benefits for individuals experiencing stress and burnout, but its impact on combatants' well-being in this setting has received limited attention. This review aims to examine the available evidence on how sexual intimacy may buffer against emotional exhaustion, stress overload, and burnout among military personnel serving in combat settings. The article will explore studies on combat-related sexual activity and its role in mitigating psychological distress, specifically focusing on studies published between 2018-2020. It will also highlight potential limitations of existing research, areas for future investigation, and practical implications for policy and practice. The following section will discuss the findings of each study, followed by a synthesis and discussion of their overall significance.
The literature search revealed that there are no empirical studies that have examined the relationship between sexual intimacy and emotional exhaustion or stress overload during combat.
Several studies have investigated other factors that may contribute to these outcomes, including coping strategies, resilience, and social support. While these variables may play a role in reducing emotional exhaustion and stress overload, they do not directly address the specific protective effect of sexual intimacy in combat settings. Therefore, more research is needed to understand the nuanced ways in which sexual intimacy may affect mental health outcomes among combatants.
While the literature provides some insight into how various factors can influence emotional exhaustion and stress overload among combatants, it does not specifically address the impact of sexual intimacy. Future research should consider the unique challenges faced by combatants when engaging in sexual behavior, such as safety concerns and cultural norms around sex.
Longitudinal designs would help elucidate whether sexual intimacy has a lasting effect on mental health outcomes beyond the initial period of combat exposure.
This review suggests that further exploration of the role of sexual intimacy in buffering against emotional exhaustion, stress overload, and burnout in combat settings is necessary to inform effective interventions for military personnel experiencing trauma.
Can sexual intimacy buffer against emotional exhaustion, stress overload, and burnout in combat settings?
In the context of combat settings, it is often suggested that sexual intimacy can provide relief from various negative experiences such as emotional exhaustion, stress overload, and burnout. This is because having a strong social support system, which includes close relationships with family members, friends, and romantic partners, has been found to reduce these negative effects (e. g. , Kahn et al. , 2014; Van Dijk & Knippenberg, 2008).