July 9, 2012: By the Numbers
3x
Soldiers reporting generalized anxiety were three times more likely to leave the Army than those who did not report anxiety, according to an article in the July 2012 issue of Military Medicine: The Effects of Mental Health Symptoms and Organizational Climate on Intent to Leave the Military Among Combat Veterans, by Paul J. Wright, Paul Y. Kim, Joshua E. Wilk and Jeffrey L. Thomas.
The authors surveyed about 900 members of an infantry brigade about six months after their return from a combat deployment in Iraq. The soldiers were asked about their overall deployment experiences, mental health symptoms, and their perceptions of the organizational climate (unit cohesion, morale and perceived organizational support). Unit cohesion and morale were not significantly associated with intention to leave the military, however "soldiers reporting higher POS were signifcantly less likely to report intent to leave."
Although anxiety is correlated with both depression and PTSD, the study authors were able to identify it independently as a factor in the decision of whether or not to remain in the military.
3x
Soldiers reporting generalized anxiety were three times more likely to leave the Army than those who did not report anxiety, according to an article in the July 2012 issue of Military Medicine: The Effects of Mental Health Symptoms and Organizational Climate on Intent to Leave the Military Among Combat Veterans, by Paul J. Wright, Paul Y. Kim, Joshua E. Wilk and Jeffrey L. Thomas.
The authors surveyed about 900 members of an infantry brigade about six months after their return from a combat deployment in Iraq. The soldiers were asked about their overall deployment experiences, mental health symptoms, and their perceptions of the organizational climate (unit cohesion, morale and perceived organizational support). Unit cohesion and morale were not significantly associated with intention to leave the military, however "soldiers reporting higher POS were signifcantly less likely to report intent to leave."
Although anxiety is correlated with both depression and PTSD, the study authors were able to identify it independently as a factor in the decision of whether or not to remain in the military.