Journal of Organization and Human Behaviour

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Psychological Factors Determining High Intentions to Join Defence Services among Adolescents


Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore., India
2 Department of Psychology, Bharathir University, Coimbatore., India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


The comparison of the adolescents with high Intentions to join Defence Services to those with low Intentions to join can help the authorities to identify the key determinant factors in choosing Defence as career. A thorough investigation of exploring such key determinant factors will facilitate to plan for suitable strategies for providing proper solutions to enhance youth's strong Intention to join Defence Services. A sample of 300 Pre-University students studying in the vicinity of Bangalore city was approached to provide data on their career Intentions using a Career Choice Schedule. Data on Mental Toughness, Life Values, and Adjustment and Personality traits were collected from these two groups (High Intention and Low Intention) of respondents. The statistical analysis of "t" tests revealed that the High Intention group tends to have low adjustment in dimensions of family, social and educational fields comparing to Low Intention group adolescents. Similarly, the High Intentions group and Low Intention group differ significantly on Mental Toughness factors such as focus and goal commitment. Regarding life values dimensions the High Intention group is likely to show more importance to values such as belonging, concern for environment, responsibility, humility, independence and less importance on privacy than Low Intention group. The Personality traits also differ significantly between the two groups of adolescents. The High Intention group is more agreeable and conscientious comparing to their counterparts and low on extroversion comparing to Low Intention group. The implications of the study in terms of policy making and orientation programme to enhance competency to join Defence Forces are suggested.

Keywords

Mental Toughness, Life Values, Adjustment, High Intention to Join Defence
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Arbor, A. MI: Ann Arbor Institute for social research, Michingan University.

  • Bogg, J., & Cooper, C. (1995). Job satisfaction, mental health, and occupational stress among senior civil servants, Human Relations, 48, 327-341.

  • Bourg, C., & Segal, M.W. (1999). The impact of family supportive policies and practices on organizational commitment to the Army, Armed Forces & Society, 25, 633-652.

  • Berkman, L. F. (1995). The role of social relations in health promotion, Psychosomatic Medicine, 57, 245-254.

  • Bachman, J. G. (1974). Values, preferences and peceptions concerning defence Services: Part II.

  • Berkowitz (Eds) Altruism and Helping Behavior, 251-268. Academic Press.

  • Chaturvedula, S., & Joseph, C. (2007). Dimensions of psychological well-being and personality in defence aircrew: A preliminary study, Indian Journal of Aerospace Medicine, 51(2).

  • Castro, C. A., & Adler, A. B. (1999). The impact of operations tempo on soldier and unit readiness. Parameters, 29, 86-95.

  • Dolan, C. A. & Ender, M. G. (2008). The Coping Paradox: Work, Stress, and Coping in the U.S. Army. Defence Psychology, 20, 151-169.

  • Cetin, Ebrinc, Basoglu, Semiz, Cobanoglu, Can, Karaduma (2003). Factors Affecting the Satisfaction of Recruits with the Defence Environment, Türk Psikiyatri Dergisi, 14, 2, 125-133.

  • Dicks, D. A. (1988). A longitudinal analysis of Intentions to enlist: impact on subsequent enlistments and performance of U.S. Marines. Unpublished master’s thesis, Monterey, CA, Naval post graduate school

  • Dr. Robinson, J. P. (2000). The Workplace, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, 1, 3.

  • Eling, T. W., Johnson, R. M., Gade, P. A., & Hertzback, A. (1986). The Army enlistment decision: An overview of the ARI recruit surveys, 1982 and 1983 (ARI research report (1371), Alexandria, VA: Human Resources Research Organization.

  • Faris, J. H. (1995). The looking-glass army: patriotism in the post-cold war era, Armed Forces and Society, 21, 411-435.

  • Glen, H. & Elder, J. (1986). Defence Times and Turning Point in Men’s Lives, Developmental psychology. 22, 2, 233-245.

  • McAllister, I. (1995). Schools, Enlistment, and Defence Values: The Australian Services Cadet Scheme, Armed Forces & Society, 22, 1, 83-102.

  • Legree, P. J., Gade, P. A., Martin, D. E., Fischl, M. A., Wilson, M. J., Nieva, V. F., McCloy, R. & Laurence, J. (2000). Defence enlistment and family dynamics: youth and parental perspectives, Defence Psychology, 12, 31-49.

  • Moskos, C. C. Jr. (1970). The American enlisted man: The rank and file in today’s defence. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

  • Nelson, P. D. (1976). Biographical constructs as predictors of adjustment to organizational environments, In N. L. Goldman & D. R. Segal (Eds.), Sage Research Progress Series on War, Revolution and Peacekeeping, The social psychology of defence Service, 6, (89-115). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.

  • Hoeksema, N. S., & Davis, C. G. (1999). Thanks for sharing that : Ruminators and their social support networks, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77, 801-814.

  • Rabecca, K. P., Elig, T. W., & Johnson, R. M. (1986). Towards an understanding of Defence enlistment motivational patterns, Alexandria, VA. US Army Research Institute for the behavioral and social sciences (Report No. ARI-TR-702).

  • Rosenhan, D. (1970). The natural socialization of altruistic autonomy, in: L. Macaulay & L. Segal, M. W. Segal, D. R. & Bachman, J. G. (1998a) Gender and propensity to enlist in the US defence, Gender Issues, 16, 65-88.

  • Shulman, S., Shiff, L. R., & Scharf, M. (2000). Family relationships, leaving home, and adjustment to defence Service, The Journal of psychology, 134(4):392-400.

  • Brown, U. J. III & Dharma S. R. (2005). Generalized Exchange and Propensity for Defence Service: The Moderating Effect of Prior Defence Exposure, Journal of Applied Statistics, 32, 3, 259-270.

  • Vickers, Jr., R. R., Hervig, L. K. & Booth, R. F. (1996). Personality and Success among Defence Enlisted Personnel: An Historical perspective study of U.S Navy Corpsmen. Naval Helath Research Center.

  • Woodruff,, T., Kelty, R. & Segal, D. R. (2005). Propensity to Serve and Motivation to Enlist among American Combat Soldiers, Armed Forces & Society, 32, 1, 1-15.

  • Wang, M., & Erdheim, J. (2007). Does the Five-Factor Model of Personality Relate to Goal Orientation? Personality and Individual Difference, 43, 1493-1505.


Abstract Views: 283

PDF Views: 0




  • Psychological Factors Determining High Intentions to Join Defence Services among Adolescents

Abstract Views: 283  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Somasundaram Subramanian
Department of Psychology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore., India
J. Kruthika
Department of Psychology, Bharathir University, Coimbatore., India

Abstract


The comparison of the adolescents with high Intentions to join Defence Services to those with low Intentions to join can help the authorities to identify the key determinant factors in choosing Defence as career. A thorough investigation of exploring such key determinant factors will facilitate to plan for suitable strategies for providing proper solutions to enhance youth's strong Intention to join Defence Services. A sample of 300 Pre-University students studying in the vicinity of Bangalore city was approached to provide data on their career Intentions using a Career Choice Schedule. Data on Mental Toughness, Life Values, and Adjustment and Personality traits were collected from these two groups (High Intention and Low Intention) of respondents. The statistical analysis of "t" tests revealed that the High Intention group tends to have low adjustment in dimensions of family, social and educational fields comparing to Low Intention group adolescents. Similarly, the High Intentions group and Low Intention group differ significantly on Mental Toughness factors such as focus and goal commitment. Regarding life values dimensions the High Intention group is likely to show more importance to values such as belonging, concern for environment, responsibility, humility, independence and less importance on privacy than Low Intention group. The Personality traits also differ significantly between the two groups of adolescents. The High Intention group is more agreeable and conscientious comparing to their counterparts and low on extroversion comparing to Low Intention group. The implications of the study in terms of policy making and orientation programme to enhance competency to join Defence Forces are suggested.

Keywords


Mental Toughness, Life Values, Adjustment, High Intention to Join Defence

References