Stress Coping Strategies of Young Soldiers in the Context of the Deteriorating Security Situation

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to investigate how military students perceive and feel about the deteriorating security situation within the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Additionally, it aims to identify their coping responses and strategies associated with the conflict. The quantitative research design was employed, specifically utilizing a standardized Brief COPE inventory.
The data for this study was collected in 2024. The sample consists of 178 military students from the Faculty of Military Leadership of the University of Defence in the Czech Republic. The results indicate that young military students perceive the security situation as serious and believe it will affect their future careers. However, the security situation does not cause them significant stress, and they do not report significantly high levels of any of the coping strategies offered. To the highest extent, the students declare especially the application of the following strategies – Acceptance, Planning, and Humor.