A Social Problem: Solders’ Attitude And Motivational State
Author(s):
Abimbola Farinde
Abstract:
The widespread growth of soldiers becoming more and more exposed to the physical and mental implications of war is escalating at an alarming rate, and one of the major problem/issue that has emerged as a result of this is the lack of close attention being paid to the changes that can occur with soldiers’ motivational states and attitude which can have significant effects on their social, occupational, and behavioral functioning. With multiple deployments into different combat zones, many soldiers begin to accept the belief that they may not ever regain the same level of motivation and attitudes, and are unable to think positively about their participation in the army and this starts transform with time. The current literature has not critically analyzed the particular changes that occur with soldiers’ motivation and attitude because more attention has typically be given to the more recognized mental disorders and physical injuries that can be serious consequences of their combat exposure. The predominant problem of soldiers experiencing changes in their motivation and attitude which can cause them to be defenseless while engaged in combat can originate from their multiple combat exposure and quick turnaround times for deployments, the inability of mental health providers to properly identify the existence of an issue with their motivation and attitude, the deplorable living condition they are subjected to while deployed, and soldiers’ inability to adopt healthy lifestyle behavior that assist them with carrying out their daily tasks that are required during combat. The effects that can be observed from this factors that can cause changes in soldiers’ motivational state and attitude is impaired functional ability while in combat and soldiers can become susceptible to enemy fire as a result of not being on guard due to the lack of the initiative to do so. One of the most effective resolutions for this problem is to attempt to decrease the number of deployments for soldiers within a given year as increase the amount of time that soldiers have to recuperate in between their deployments into combat because this serves as a significant contributor to the growing prevalence of the problem. Additionally, mental health providers should be adequately trained to identify this problem in it early phases of development so that appropriate interventions can be implemented. It is important that both health care providers and society take necessary steps to address this growing issue in order to maintain the health and functionality of its soldiers for years to come.
How to cite this article:
Abimbola Farinde. A Social Problem: Solders’ Attitude And Motivational State. Pharma Innovation 2013;1(12):39-49.