Mediating effect of job stress on fatigue of soldiers being stationed in arid desert under idiosyncratic coping style

Abstract

Objective To investigate the psychological fatigue status of soldiers being stationed in arid desert area and analyze the mediating effect of trait coping style on job stress and fatigue. Methods The Chinese version of Multi-Dimensional Fatigue Scale (MFI-20), Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ) and Job Stress Questionnaire (JSS) were used to survey 856 military personnel from a unit being stationed in the arid desert area of Xinjiang form August 2019 to September 2022. Then the mediating effect of trait coping style on job stress and fatigue was investigated. Results The scores of motivation were declined in the soldiers with lower education level than those with higher education level (H=6.111, P < 0.05). The total scores of physical fatigue, mental fatigue and fatigue were higher in those from one-child family than those not (Z=-2.475, -2.432, -2.103, P < 0.05). Positive coping style was negatively correlated with fatigue factors and total fatigue score (r=-0.483, -0.193, -0.287, -0.450, -0.506, P < 0.05). Negative coping style was positively correlated with fatigue factors and total fatigue score (r=0.612, 0.232, 0.186, 0.572, 0.595, P < 0.05). The negative coping style had a partial mediating effect between mental fatigue and work stress. The total effect of mental fatigue on work stress was 7.649, and the negative coping accounts for 46% of the total effect. Conclusion There is a correlation of mental fatigue with trait coping style and job stress, and the negative coping style plays a mediating effect between mental fatigue and job stress in the soldiers being stationed in arid desert area. Attention should be paid to the psychological fatigue among them in order to promote their combat ability.

Keywords

• arid desert environment
• military personnel
• mental fatigue
• trait coping style
• work stress