Stress and Health During Medical Humanitarian Assistance Missions
Abstract
The present research examined stress and health among service members deployed on a medical humanitarian assistance mission to Kazakstan. Team members were surveyed prior to and during their deployment. Team members underestimated how much stress they would experience in terms of isolation and inability to help the local population. Team members also used less adaptive coping mechanisms than anticipated, and showed elevations in alcohol and cigarette consumption. Despite these negative experiences, reports of depression and physical symptoms did not increase during the deployment. This may have been a function of team members being personally involved in important and relevant work during the humanitarian operation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA365364
Entities
People
- Amy B Adler
- Thomas W. Britt
Organizations
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research