IMPROVING STRESS PREVENTION IN MILITARY PERSONNEL BASED ON THE STUDY OF STRESS LEVELS AND THEIR DETERMINANTS

Occupational stress remains one of the leading factors affecting psychological well-being, operational readiness, and long-term health among military personnel. While post-traumatic stress disorder has been extensively investigated, less attention has been devoted to early manifestations of stress associated with routine military service, including sleep disturbances, anxiety, interpersonal conflicts, and adaptation difficulties. This study aimed to analyze stress levels and contributing factors among military personnel and to propose an improved preventive approach based on risk stratification. The research was based on a clinical and psychological assessment of 170 male servicemen aged 18–45 years, including 140 hospitalized participants with stress-related disorders and 30 healthy controls. Standardized psychometric instruments (PSS-10, HADS, PSQI, MSPSS, SD-RISS-10) were employed alongside clinical interviews and statistical analysis. The findings demonstrated that sleep impairment, prolonged service-related conflicts, restricted family communication, night duty, and adaptation difficulties substantially increased psychological vulnerability. Higher PSQI and HADS scores were associated with delayed recovery and reduced readiness to return to service. Based on these findings, an Adaptive Preventive Stress Stratification (APSS) framework is proposed, integrating sleep quality, emotional symptoms, service conditions, and resilience indicators into a dynamic prevention algorithm. The proposed approach may enhance early identification, targeted intervention, and mental health surveillance within military units.