Effect of psychological capital interventions on well-being in new recruits during assembly training: a comparative study

Abstract

Objective To compare the effects of 2 kinds of psychological capital intervention on well-being of new recruits during assembly training. Methods A total of 99 soldiers who were newly recruited in March 2021 were subjected by cluster sampling from an army unit. Then they were divided into 3 groups, that is, 8-time intervention group, 1-time intervention group and control group. The participants from the 8-time intervention group were given psychological capital group training for 8 times, twice a week, about 2 h per time, for 4 consecutive weeks. Those out of 1-time intervention group were given psychological capital group training in the 4th week for 3 h. While the control group was blank control. Positive Psychological capital Questionnaire (PPQ), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and Chinese version for Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-being (RPWB) were measured in all subjects before intervention (T1), after intervention (T2) and 1 month after intervention (T3). Results There were no significant differences in demographic data and psychological indicators in the 3 groups before intervention. ① There were statistical significances in the interaction effect between measurement time for subjective well-being and different training groups (P < 0.05). The 8-time intervention group showed significantly higher subjective well-being at T1 and T2 than the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), while the 1-time intervention group only showed at T2 (P < 0.05). ② Significant difference was seen in the interaction effect between measurement time for psychological well-being and different training groups (P < 0.05). The 8-time intervention group had obviously higher psychological well-being at T2 than the control group (P < 0.05), while the 1-time intervention group had no such difference from control group at T2 and T3 (P < 0.05). ③ Interaction effect was significant between measurement time for total score of psychological capital and different training groups (P < 0.05). The scores of psychological capital were significantly higher in the 8-time intervention group than the control group at T2 and T3 (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and in the 1-time intervention group than the control group only at T2 (P < 0.05). Conclusion Psychological capital training could effectively increase recruits' positive psychological resources and improve well-being during assembly training. The 8-times group intervention has better effects than the 1-time group intervention, and can last longer.

Keywords

• psychological capital intervention
• subjective well-being
• psychological well-being
• new recruits