LOCUS OF CONTROL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES AMONG ARMY PERSONNEL abstract

Background: Besides national security, Indian Army personnel are involved in other pivotal duties such as border security, internal security and disaster management. Across the world, army personnel face arduous and complicated responsibilities, which creates a disposition to develop into various psychiatric issues such as depression, anxiety disorder, substance use and suicide. Additionally, external locus of control was found to have better adaptability among soldiers who are deployed in low-intensity conflict and other areas. Therefore, to have an inclusive understanding. Aim: To examine the role of locus of control in mental health issues among Army personnel. Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional design conducted at Rashtriya Raksha University, Gujarat, on 50 Army personnel, who were administered the DASS-21 and Rotter’s Locus of Control Scale. Results: The present study observed that Army personnel suffer from mild levels of depression, anxiety and stress. The current research also found that on locus of control, 42 (84.0%) of army personnel had internal locus of control, and 8 (16.0%) had external locus of control. Conclusion: The present research on Indian Army personnel finds that, despite having an internal locus of control, they suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress. Apart from counselling, they should provide mental health literacy to educate about mental illness, and regular capacity-building training to enhance coping skills is recommended.