Personality traits as predictors of stress-induced somatic diseases in military academy cadets

Relevance. The need to improve medical and psychological support for cadets of higher military educational institutions in order to reduce disease incidence and subsequent dismissal of military professionals for health reasons. Intention. To identify personality-associated predictors of stress-induced somatic diseases in cadets.

Methodology. 433 male cadets aged 21-24 years in their 5-6th year of training were examined. We used the D. Keirsey personality questionnaire and the Giessen personality inventory. Somatic morbidity was analyzed based on the results of annual medical examinations and correlated with the International classification of diseases, injuries and behavioral disorders, 10th revision (ICD-10).

Results and Discussion. The growth of somatic morbidity of cadets in the course of training was established. Diseases of the digestive system (K00–K93 according to ICD-10) were most common, their percentage increased from 0 % in the first year to 7.3 % in the 5-6th years of training. Diseases of the circulatory system (I00–I99) and diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00–L99) increased up to 2.7 %. Personality characteristics of cadets have been studied. Typological and psychosocial personality characteristics associated with the risk of health disorders in the learning process were identified.

Conclusion. Typological and psychosocial personality traits can be predictors of stress-induced somatic diseases in cadets in the course of training. Vulnerability to cardiovascular diseases is closer associated with typological personality traits, to skin diseases – with psychosocial traits, and diseases of the digestive system correlated with both typological and psychosocial personality traits.

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