Behavioral Predictors of Acute Stress Symptoms During Intense Military Training

A better understanding of factors influencing human responses to acute stress is needed to enhance prevention and treatment of stress-related disorders. In the current study, the authors examined predictors of acute stress symptoms during intense military training in 35 men. In univariate and multivariate models, perceived stress, passive coping, and emotion-focused coping during daily living predicted acute stress symptoms in response to realistic survival training, whereas active coping and problem-focused coping did not. Baseline stress levels and coping styles, both of which may be modifiable, appear to play a fundamental role in the human response to acute uncontrollable stress. Additional research is needed to better elucidate the relative and interactive contributions of behavioral predictors of acute stress.