RELATIONSHIP OF CHARACTER ACCENTUATIONS TO POST-STRESS RESPONSES IN COMBAT-EXPERIENCED PERSONNEL

Abstract

Results. Variability in psychological responses to combat stress highlights the need to examine individual characteristics associated with post-stress manifestations in military personnel. Character accentuations are particularly relevant because specific traits may relate differently to components of post-stress responding. This study examined associations between accentuated character traits and overall and component-specific post-stress measures in military personnel with combat experience. The cross-sectional correlational study included 30 military personnel aged 20 – 63 years. Participants completed the Accent-2-90 questionnaire developed by M. I. Vigdorchik, the B1 screening questionnaire, and the Blinov Combat Stress Questionnaire (CSQ). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, the Shapiro-Wilk test, Spearman’s rank correlations, and Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate correction across 66 tests. Hyperthymic traits had the highest group mean. Of 15 associations meeting the unadjusted p < .05 criterion, four remained significant after correction. B1 scores were positively associated with cyclothymic traits (ρ = .575, q = .020), excitable traits (ρ = .574, q = .020), and anxious traits (ρ = .573, q = .020), while the CSQ ASD/PTSD indicator was associated with excitable traits (ρ = .544, q = .031). The remaining nominal associations were interpreted as exploratory. The most robust findings involved B1 scores and excitability. Given the small sample and correlational design, the findings are preliminary and do not support causal, clinical, or individual prognostic conclusions. Character accentuation profiles may nevertheless provide supplementary contextual information during comprehensive psychological assessment of military personnel with combat experience.

Thus, the hypothesis received partial support: the significant associations were trait-specific and concentrated in the PTSD-related indicators, with excitability showing the most consistent pattern across B1 and ASD/PTSD, two differently scored indicators based on the same item content.

The findings support viewing character accentuations as one component of the individual psychological context of post-stress responding rather than as isolated predictors of its severity. The cross-sectional correlational design does not permit conclusions regarding causal direction or the interpretation of particular accentuations as risk or protective factors.