Relationship between perceived stress and post-traumatic growth of training recruits among armed police: a chain mediating model

  Objective  To explore the effect of the needs for relatedness on post-traumatic growth coping efficacy of training recruits, in order to better manage the mental health of recruits.

  Methods  A group of 675 training recruits were assessed by the post-traumatic growth Inventory for Recruits Training(PTGI-RT), Chinese version Perceived Stress Scale(CPSS), Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Relatedness Subscale and Coping Efficacy Questionnaire. SPSS26.0 was used for descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and mediation effect test.

  Results  Totally 623 valid questionnaires were collected, and the effective response rate was 92.3%. The total average score of the recruits' stress perception scale was(34.31 ± 8.47), the total average score of the relationship needs scale was(45.90 ± 7.93), the total average score of the coping efficacy scale was(57.37 ± 7.32), and the total average score of the post stress growth scale was(81.70 ± 20.56). Relationship needs and coping efficacy played a partial mediating role in the impact of stress perception on post stress growth. The mediating role produces effects through three paths: (1) path 1 produced by stress perception, relationship needs and post stress growth(the effect value was - 0.175, accounting for 33.59% of the total effect); (2) path 2 produced by stress perception, coping efficacy and post stress growth(the effect value was - 0.254, accounting for 48.75% of the total effect); (3) path 3 produced by stress perception, relationship needs, coping efficacy and growth after stress(the effect value was - 0.049, accounting for 9.41% of the total effect), which were statistically significant(P < 0.05).

  Conclusions  Recruits' stress perception, relationship needs and coping efficacy were closely related to the growth after intensive training stress. Relationship needs and coping efficacy played a chain intermediary effect in recruits' stress perception and growth after intensive training stress. We should pay attention to the emotional state of recruits, create a warm and harmonious team atmosphere, meet the recruits' sense of belonging, enhance their self-confidence and coping efficacy, so as to promote the psychological growth of recruits.