Prevalence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) Among Soldiers in Nigerian Army Headquarters, 82 Division Enugu

Abstract

The manifestation of elevated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms among military personnel is deeply concerning. This investigation aimed to explore the relationship between PTSD prevalence in soldiers and their duration of active military service. The conceptual framework was grounded in Emotional Processing and Stress Response theories. Employing a cross-sectional methodology, the research focused on active personnel within the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Enugu, comprising 500 individuals. Through a multistage sampling procedure, a final sample of 244 participants was obtained. Data collection utilized standardized assessment tools, specifically the military adaptation of the PTSD Checklist alongside the Combat Exposure Scale. Analytical procedures encompassed descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation), regression analyses, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results indicated a mean score of 02.70 (SD = 0.48972) for distressing past experiences. Hypothesis testing revealed an R-Square value of 0.578, suggesting that the examined factors account for 57.8% of the variance in PTSD development. The associated ANOVA produced an F-value of 470.606 (p = 0.000). The study concluded that PTSD occurrence is multifaceted, manifesting consistently across demographic categories (age, gender, marital status) among soldiers exposed to traumatic incidents. It is recommended that rehabilitation interventions for soldiers commence promptly following exposure to traumatic situations.