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Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of the depression level with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in young conscripts as a population with chronic stresses. Material and Methods: A total number of 144 male conscripts with chronic stress and different levels of depression were assigned to four groups according to the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). The control group consisted of age‐matched male conscripts without chronic stress. The diagnosis of TMD was made according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). Data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney and chi‐square tests. Results: The participants with severe depression were significantly more susceptible to have TMD (p =.001) followed by the moderate depression, borderline clinical depression, mild mood disturbance, and control groups. The TMD diagnoses were more prevalent within depression groups compared with the control population (p =.01). Conclusions: The level of depression is directly associated with the presence of TMD in young men with chronic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incident command in Denmark has changed. This is evident from how the training of conscripts and incident commanders has evolved from a traditional perspective focussing on a shared situational picture to a relational perspective focussing on sensemaking. This article seeks to explore how incident commanders from the Danish Emergency Management Agency can promote sensemaking among conscripts during an incident. The empirical material consists of a focus group interview with six conscripts from one of the Danish Emergency Management Agency’s operative bases. The data from the interview have been analysed using Karl E. Weick’s sensemaking theory and Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan’s self-determination theory. Especially Weick’s concepts of cues and identity prove important for the conscripts’ sensemaking, and the authors have found that meaning is created continuously. If the incident commander does not feed information to the conscripts, they will create their own meaning of the incident. Such unsupported sensemaking may be negatively focussed compared to sensemaking supported by the incident commander. The article argues that incident commanders from the Danish Emergency Management Agency may improve conscripts’ sensemaking during an incident if they are aware of how conscripts make sense of the experience. By supporting sensemaking, this article argues, commanders can increase conscripts’ motivation, as the study points to a correlation between conscripts’ sense of purpose and their motivation during an incident. Abstrakt Beredskabsstyrelsen har som det statslige redningsberedskab mange forskellige opgaver med stor variation i art og omfang. Dertil er der i Danmark i dag større fokus på komplekse hændelser, og i den forbindelse affødes et større behov for meningsskabelse i forbindelse med indsatser. Artiklen undersøger, hvordan der skabes mening for det værnepligtige mandskab i Beredskabsstyrelsen, samt hvordan dette har indflydelse på deres motivation. Der er indsamlet empiri gennem et fokusgruppeinterview med seks værnepligtige fra et af Beredskabsstyrelsens operative centre. Den indsamlede data er blevet analyseret med udgangspunkt i Karl E. Weicks meningsskabelsesteori og Edward L. Deci og Richard M. Ryans selvbestemmelsesteori. Undersøgelsen viser, at ledetråde og identitet spiller en særlig rolle for meningsskabelse under indsatser, og at der er en sammenhæng mellem de værnepligtiges følelse af mening og deres motivation. Hvis ikke vagthavende er med til at skabe mening for de værnepligtige, skaber de den selv, og denne kan adskille sig negativt fra vagthavendes meningsforståelse. Vagthavende har derfor en betydning for de værnepligtiges meningsskabelse og motivation i forbindelse med indsatser. Nøgleord: meningsskabelse; indsatsledelse; motivation; Beredskabsstyrelsen; værnepligtige

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of the depression level with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in young conscripts as a population with chronic stresses. Material and Methods A total number of 144 male conscripts with chronic stress and different levels of depression were assigned to four groups according to the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). The control group consisted of age‐matched male conscripts without chronic stress. The diagnosis of TMD was made according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). Data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney and chi‐square tests. Results The participants with severe depression were significantly more susceptible to have TMD (p = .001) followed by the moderate depression, borderline clinical depression, mild mood disturbance, and control groups. The TMD diagnoses were more prevalent within depression groups compared with the control population (p = .01). Conclusions The level of depression is directly associated with the presence of TMD in young men with chronic stress.

Introduction. The article examines the application of the concept of social construction to the formation of the image of a “hero” among students and its sociodynamics during a special military operation. Conscripts and Cossack youth were taken for comparative analysis. The importance of the influence of images of “heroes” that meet certain requirements in the conditions of “hybrid war” is noted.Methodology and sources. The main approaches to social construction from the position of forming the image of a “hero” are presented (A. Schutz, P. Berger, T. Lukman, G. Bloomer, K. Popper, M. Spector, J. Kitseuse, W. Lippman). The factors influencing the formation of the image of the “hero” and the procedures of social construction are described. The interrelation of the constructed image of the "hero" and the result of its functioning in the social environment is shown. The influence of mass media and social networks on the formation of the image of a “hero” is substantiated, the concept of a social construct is described: representations of youth – value choice – result. The research data of the authors of the article on the value orientations of young people are presented.Results and discussion. The results of sociological diagnostics of the image of the “hero” in the dynamics of 2022–2023 are presented. This diagnosis was carried out among students in St. Petersburg and Moscow, as well as among a group of young people to whom targeted social technologies were applied (specifically, conscripts and Cossack youth).Conclusion. In the second year of the special military operation, there was a transformation of the image of a ‘hero’ for all groups of young people. The students were influenced by the social construction of “soft power”. For example, changing the broadcast content on the Internet, introducing special lessons of courage and “Talking about important things”. However, the standard of the “warrior hero” remains at the level of the Great Patriotic War, which indicates insufficient historical immersion of the transmitted information, and, at the same time, insufficient actualization of modern warrior heroes. The results are somewhat different for young people focused on the military sphere (on the example of Cossack youth). By purposeful social construction (political information, direct communication with the participants of a special military operation, studying the history of Russia, etc.), the image of the “hero” turns out to be stronger and more reliable.

Copyright of Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies is the property of Ubiquity Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

It is indicated that the guarantees of protection of personal data of conscripts are a system of conditions, principles, legal and organizational means established by law, which ensure the protection of information or a set of information about a person-conscript, who is identified or can be specifically identified for the purpose of implementation by such persons constitutional rights and freedoms in legal relations arising during mobilization training and/or mobilization. The author emphasized that the need to make operational and immediate decisions significantly reduces the potential of the principle of scientificity, the observance and consideration of which is important on the way to the development of the most optimal solution. In particular, in such a difficult situation, in which vital decisions have to be made, quite natural questions arise in the area of timeliness, adequacy of such decisions, their compliance with the Constitution and laws of Ukraine. In the author's opinion, one of the similar issues is the search for ways to ensure the protection of personal data of conscripts during their use in state registers for military registration. Legal and organizational ways aimed at ensuring the protection of personal data of conscripts and other persons during their receipt, processing and use by electronic register tools are proposed, in particular: amend the draft law aimed at avoiding the exchange of data between state registers and their owners and administrators as such, which contradicts the Constitution and laws of Ukraine; clearly define the list of persons (as well as the professional requirements for them) with the right of access to the electronic register in order to reduce the negative impact of the so-called human factor of illegal use or "negligent leakage" of personal data from the register's information bases; by analogy with positive foreign experience, publish certificates and detailed technical information (including the source code) of the corresponding software product, which should confirm the high technical level of protection of the electronic information and telecommunications system; provide for administrative and criminal liability for illegal receipt, distribution and use of personal data of conscripts and other persons, illegal interference in the work of the electronic register, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of research: theoretical and organizational aspects of personal military accounting at enterprises and directions for their improvement. The purpose of the study of issues of organization and maintenance of military records in Ukraine in the conditions of modern challenges and threats. Method or methodology for conducting research. The methodological basis of the research is the general scientific dialectical method, methods of induction, deduction. When studying the theory and current practice of military accounting at domestic enterprises, the methods of evaluation, comparison, comparison, grouping, and classification were used. When researching the normative and legal foundations of the organization of military accounting in Ukraine, its role in the implementation of the state's mobilization policy, the following were used: for the purpose of comprehensive knowledge of the object of research - dialectical method, methods of analysis and synthesis; to identify the advantages and disadvantages of various types of military accounting - the method of comparison and logical generalization; for the purpose of visual representation of the material, theoretical and practical provisions - a method of observation, generalization and graphic representation of data. The results of research and conclusions. The article examines current issues regarding the organizational and legal support of the organization and keeping military records in Ukraine. The peculiarities of the organization and maintenance of military accounting at enterprises were analyzed and critically evaluated, taking into account modern conditions. The components of the mechanism of effective interaction with the district (city) territorial centers of recruitment and social support in matters of military record keeping are defined, problems are outlined and ways to solve them are proposed.

A great admirer of the writings of Flaubert and Julien Gracq (Laplace-Treyture, 2014), the works of geographer Armand Frémont are characterised as much by their innovative nature as by the remarkable quality of their writing. First a university lecturer, then a senior civil servant in the Ministry of Education, his life and writings were strongly influenced by his eight-month stay in Algeria during the Algerian war. From this field experience, he published numerous texts, some of which were published before the end of the conflict. They are all the more valuable in that there are very few accounts by academics who were directly involved in the conflict as conscripts. The aim of our study is therefore to contribute to the rediscovery of all the “Algerian” writings that Armand Frémont drew from this highly unusual period in his life, and which are not limited to Algérie - El Djazaïr. Les carnets de guerre et de terrain d'un géographe published in 1982.

Historical demography is generally concerned with the changing economic, social and normative contexts of human behaviour and health outcomes. To most historical demographers, the 'genetic' component of behaviour and health is either unknown or assumed to be constant. However, several studies point at the shift over time in the relative importance of environment and genes: in periods and social groups with strong normative or economic constraints on behaviour, the 'genetic potential' is often not realized. Therefore, to some extent, the waning of environmental constraints on heritability plays a role in changes in demographic outcomes over time. Determining the relative importance of heritability versus shared environment in historical populations for which only genealogies are available poses a challenge. Kin may live in different periods, and in different cultural and social settings. This explorative paper analyses the association between heights of conscripted relatives, as well as their life span. I estimate how the associations are affected by respectively genetic relatedness, shared historical period and shared social and geographical environment. Furthermore, I make a distinction between kin related via the mother versus kin related via the father. All kinds of kin are involved in the analysis: (half, full and twin) brothers, fathers, grandfathers, uncles and cousins. The data consist of about 3,000 men culled from Texel island genealogies, which also include descendants of families who had left the island. Life span has a weak, but still discernible, genetic element. The heritability of height is much stronger, especially at age 19/20. The correlations of mother’s kin with her son's heights are stronger than those of her husband's kin. The analysis does not yield a consistent effect of a protective environment on kin correlations in either height or life span.

Background: Heat-related illnesses (HRI) are a major health problem among conscripts. Risk assessment using statistical equations is one strategy to help prevent HRI at the individual level. Objective: To create and evaluate an appropriate statistical model to predict HRI in basic conscript training courses. Materials and Methods: The study employed a prognostic and prospective design, divided into two phases. The model was developed in the first phase while the second evaluated the model. In the model development phase, the sample comprised first and second turn conscripts. The model evaluation phase involved a sample of first and second turn conscripts not in the year of the model development phase. Data on personal and environmental factors were collected in the model development phase to adjust the score level to align with the risk level. In the evaluation phase, data were collected using variables obtained during model development by categorizing the risk groups into two levels, low and high, and sorting them according to their symbolic color. Data were analyzed in the development phase using binary logistic regression and clinical predictive rule. Scores in the model evaluation phase were analyzed using the Net Reclassification Index (NRI). Results: In the model development phase, 2,217 subjects took part in the study, with a 100% response rate. The incidence of HRI was 1.6 per 1,000 persons/day. The predictive factors included alcohol consumption within seven days of military service, fever, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, and urine color. In the model evaluation phase, 2,217 subjects participated in the study, with a 100% response rate. When compared with symbolic color classification, a traditional risk assessment, the NRI was equal to 61.4% and considered to be appropriate. Conclusion: The use of score scales based on factors in the statistical model proved to be a suitable additional method for predicting heat-related illnesses at the individual level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early-life experiences can have lasting effects on health across multiple generations. The pathways of these transgenerational transmissions are difficult to explore, because of the complex interactions of social and biological factors involved. This study explores the potential role of one such pathway – inherited epigenetic modifications to gene expression – by controlling for shared environmental factors. It uses a database constructed from descendant genealogies of six lineages from Texel Island, The Netherlands. Heights and life spans of respectively 2761 and 3279 19-year old boys are related to the early-life experiences of themselves, parents and grandparents. Adversity in early-life is studied through trauma and food deprivation. Adversity has clear effects, especially on heights, but few of these effects were transmitted to children and grandchildren. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of História Unisinos is the property of Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article is devoted to the problem of incorrect understanding of such a relevant today phenomenon as looting, responsibility for which is provided for in Art. 432 of the current Criminal Code of Ukraine. An attempt has been made to show in detail the true content of the objective and subjective features of the legal composition of the considered socially dangerous phenomenon with a simultaneous comparative analysis of it with some criminal offenses against property, which, like looting, involve the taking of property, in particular in the form of theft. The relevance of the research is noted, due to the lack of adequate coverage of the content of looting. Certain opinions of other researchers regarding some signs of such a criminal act are highlighted, and arguments of both a supporting and refuting nature are given. Attention is drawn to the fact that looting, although it is a robbery in its content, is only a special manifestation of it, connected with a number of signs, only in the presence of which it will take on the appearance that will characterize it in essence. At the same time, the impossibility of a free, not related to the textually expressed form of looting in the norm of its criminal legal interpretation is indicated. At the same time certain comments of extended content are quite admissible, where it does not contradict the characteristics of the action under consideration (characteristics defined in Article 432 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). It has been noted that the question of the qualification of looting is a question of the need to determine the conformity of the signs of an act actually committed, potentially considered as looting, with the signs that characterize such an act normatively, taking into account the rules and approaches to understanding such a phenomenon as a war crime laid down in legislation. Moreover, cases of actions that resemble looting in appearance, but committed by civilians, as well as representatives of Russian units and persons supported by them from illegal armed formations fighting on the other side, have been differentiated.

Historical demography is generally concerned with the changing economic, social and normative contexts of human behaviour and health outcomes. To most historical demographers, the "genetic" component of behaviour and health is either unknown or assumed to be constant. However, several studies point at the shift over time in the relative importance of environment and genes: in periods and social groups with strong normative or economic constraints on behaviour, the "genetic potential" is often not realized. Therefore, to some extent, the waning of environmental constraints on heritability plays a role in changes in demographic outcomes over time. Determining the relative importance of heritability versus shared environment in historical populations for which only genealogies are available poses a challenge. Kin may live in different periods, and in different cultural and social settings. This explorative paper analyses the association between heights of conscripted relatives, as well as their life span. I estimate how the associations are affected by respectively genetic relatedness, shared historical period and shared social and geographical environment. Furthermore, I make a distinction between kin related via the mother versus kin related via the father. All kinds of kin are involved in the analysis: (half, full and twin) brothers, fathers, grandfathers, uncles and cousins. The data consist of about 3,000 men culled from Texel island genealogies, which also include descendants of families who had left the island. Life span has a weak, but still discernible, genetic element. The heritability of height is much stronger, especially at age 19/20. The correlations of mother's kin with her son's heights are stronger than those of her husband's kin. The analysis does not yield a consistent effect of a protective environment on kin correlations in either height or life span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to examine hair cortisol levels and self-reported stress amongst conscripts during their basic military training, and how they are related to four types of theory-derived determinants. The following prediction was made: lower levels of perceived stress and hair cortisol will be associated with: (1) higher levels of emotional stability (the individual nonmilitary aspect); (2) a lower degree of private life problems (the contextual nonmilitary aspect); (3) more positive attitudes toward the military, higher engagement in military service, and higher adaptability to military conditions (the individual-military aspect); and (4) stronger group cohesion and better leadership (the contextual-military aspect). The sample consisted of a total of 107 male Lithuanian conscripts. Assessments were made at the beginning of their basic military training, in the middle, and at the end. Established instruments were used on all self-reported scales. Hair cortisol levels were established through analyses of hair samples. Low to moderate levels of stress were found throughout the basic training period regarding perceived stress levels. Hair cortisol levels were mainly unrelated to the self-rating scales. Regarding perceived stress, the prediction was fully confirmed. The future value of the theoretical model is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the phenomena of personal growth under stress and investigates the mediating effect of leadership and four elements of group cohesion (social, task, norm, and psychological). Data were collected at the beginning and end of mandatory military training in two units (n = 184), where the first unit was redeployed (transferred from one location to another) in the middle of the training period, and the second remained in the same physical place throughout the training period. Unit leadership and cohesion were found to mitigate the negative effect of perceived stress on personal growth; however, this effect depends on the phases of group dynamics. The modeling of structural equations revealed that social cohesion is a particularly important mediator (impact 71%) in reducing the negative impact of perceived stress on personal growth in a unit without redeployment. Meanwhile, leadership is an important mitigator when a group is in formation (at the beginning of mandatory military training, leadership mediates 15–18% of effects), as well as in the unit where the bonds between group members are weak due to physical disturbance while redeploying the unit to a new location (at the end of service, the effect of leadership is 38% in the redeployed unit). We conclude that leadership can replace a lack of social cohesion in a group with weak ties between group members and reduce the negative effect of perceived stress on personal growth. This is a new insight that allows social cohesion and leadership to be seen not only as complementary factors in group dynamics, but also as substitutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scholarly literature has long argued that dedovshchina — the mistreatment of young conscripts by older soldiers — was enduring, and will endure, despite ongoing reforms in the Russian military. This leads to a needed, updated exploration of dedovshchina a decade-plus since the "new look" reforms were launched. How we can understand this problem is lensed through Russian official statements and statistics, non-governmental organizations' reports, and Russian-language media. Challenging our ability to achieve an accurate understanding of the issue is academia's recent disinterest and of course the constricting information sphere in Russia. This article asks how we understand dedovshchina today, what this suggests for discipline in the military, and if those conditions might give some preliminary indications about the success of ongoing military reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Finland, the development of oral health in young, 19- to 21-year-old males regarding restorative treatment need seems to have slowed down according to cross-sectional conscript studies between 1976 and 2011. At the individual level, the mean number of decayed teeth (DT > 0) has also steadily continued to decline. In Finland, military service is mandatory, and around 85% of males complete it. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the oral health status of young men at the beginning of the 2020s. Methods: The data were collected in July 2021 in the eight biggest Finnish Defence force garrisons by ten calibrated dentists serving in the ranks. The inclusion criteria for this study were a year of birth between 2000 and 2002 and male gender (n = 508). Third molars were included. Restorative treatment need was evaluated using ICDAS scoring. The study was designed according to the STROBE guidelines. Results: Mean DT value was 1.13 when third molars were included and 1.03 when they were excluded. Mean DMFT value was 3.23 and 2.98, respectively. The proportion of conscripts with DT > 0 was 36.4% and 34.8%, respectively. The prevalence of caries was concentrated among a small number of conscripts. Most (76.5%) had BEWE (basic erosive wear examination) of 0–2. Conscripts in the moderate and severe ETW (erosive tooth wear) groups (BEWE 3–13) comprised 23.5% of the cohort. None of the conscripts fell into the most severe group (BEWE 14–18). Conclusions: The oral health of conscripts has improved over the last ten years, and restorative treatment need has decreased significantly. Compared to previous studies, restorative treatment need was concentrated on an even smaller proportion of conscripts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Body mass index (BMI) is a composite variable of weight and height, often used as a predictor of health outcomes, including mortality. The main purpose of combining weight and height in one variable is to obtain a measure of obesity independent of height. It is however unclear how accurate BMI is as a predictor of mortality compared with models including both weight and height or a weight × height interaction as predictors. Methods The current study used conscription data on weight, height, and BMI of Swedish men (N = 48,904) in 1969/70 as well as linked data on mortality (3442 deaths) between 1969 and 2008. Cox proportional hazard models including combinations of weight, height, and BMI at conscription as predictors of subsequent all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality were fitted to data. Results An increase by one standard deviation on weight and BMI were associated with an increase in hazard for all‐cause mortality by 5.4% and 11.5%, respectively, while an increase by one standard deviation on height was associated with a decrease in hazard for all‐cause mortality by 9.4%. The best‐fitting model indicated lowest predicted all‐cause mortality for those who weighed 60.5 kg at conscription, regardless of height. Further analyses of cause‐specific mortality suggest that this weight seems to be a compromise between lower optimal weights to avoid cancer and CVD mortality and a higher optimal weight to not die by suicide. Conclusions According to the present findings, there are several ways to make better use of measured weight and height than to calculate BMI when predicting mortality.

Background: Spiritual Well-Being (SWB) is an important aspect of health. Since soldiers, as members of community, are faced with numerous spiritual, psychological, and physical problems, belief in spirituality can play an important role in explaining their purpose in life (PIL). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate SWB, PIL, and the relationship between these two concepts in conscripts. In this cross-sectional study, 301 soldiers were selected by available sampling method from one of the military barracks in Iran 2019. Data were collected using the demographic, SWB, and PIL questionnaires. The results showed that SWB of the soldiers were at the high level (100.6 ± 12.30) and their PIL were at the moderate level (112.92 ± 13.70). Furthermore, a direct and intermediate relationship was observed between the soldiers' SWB and PIL (P <0.001, r = 0.50). Based on the findings, increased SWB enhanced PIL in soldiers and vice versa. To increase generalizability of the data, studies over a larger statistical population are recommended in different cultures. Findings of this study can also identify the interventional strategies to increase the soldiers' purpose in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress is one of the reasons for the decrease in body resistance of young recruits in military personnel. A significant role of activation of lipid peroxidation (LPO) processes was established according to the results of complex studies of structural disorders of the lung tissue under the influence of stress factors. LPO is a free radical oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in biological systems, which is one of the main processes of causing damage to biological membranes and other components of the cell. The pathological effect of reactive oxygen species, hydroxyl, alkoxy, and other free radicals leads to a decrease in the amount of surfactant, pulmonary tissue edema, impaired microcirculation, reduction in the receptor mechanisms of the tracheobronchial tree cells, which ultimately leads to the disruption of the respiratory structure of the lungs and local resistance system. Antioxidants serve as the protective system of the body against LPO processes. They are a group of endogenous and exogenous biologically active substances that can block the action of reactive oxygen species. Studies have shown that the preventive introduction of antioxidants reduces the pathological effect of reactive oxygen species. For example, the introduction of a complex of substances such as a-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, as well as the complex preparation Cytoflavin®, helps to maintain the proper amount of surfactant, reduce pulmonary edema, and prevent microcirculation disorders. Thus, the preventive use of antioxidant drugs contributes to the development of pulmonoprotective action, preserving the activity of the local immunity system, which, in turn, leads to the prevention of the development of community-acquired pneumonia in military personnel undergoing a period of adaptation to military service.

A central task in military leadership is to take care of one's followers, which presupposes knowledge about relevant risk factors. Very little research has focused on the risks of developing problematic gaming behavior during military service. The present study tries to bridge this gap by assessing prevalence rates and associated risk factors of problem gaming in a sample of Norwegian conscripts across two time-points: at the beginning and end of duty. The sample comprised 2,555 individuals aged 18–24 years. A total of 1,017 (39.8%) completed the questionnaire at Time 1, ~1 month after starting the military service. Respondents who completed the first wave, at enrollment, were invited to participate in wave two, after completing their service. At Time 2, 259 (25.5%) participants responded. The prevalence rates of gaming addiction were 0.5% at Time 1 and 4.6% at Time 2, while problem gaming use was reported by 4.8% of the sample at Time 1 and 8.1% of the sample at Time 2. Paired sample t-tests revealed an overall significant increase in the mean scores on the Gaming Addiction Scale from T1 (M = 0.86, SD = 1.35) to T2 (M = 1.31, SD = 2.14), t = −2.40, p < 0.05. According to the reliable change index, 17.1% of the sample showed a reliable negative change, whereas 8.3% exhibited a reliable positive change in gaming addiction scores. However, no psychological variables measured at T1 (loneliness, boredom proneness-Internal, boredom proneness-External, anxiety, depression, game addiction, and time spent gaming) were related to attrition (from T1 to T2), or worsening of game addiction, while a positive relationship was observed between boredom proneness-External and reduced gaming addiction from T1 to T2. In sum, we observed a tendency toward a negative change in gaming behaviors during military service which may complicate the soldiers' reintegration into civilian life after their service. More research is needed to assess potential gaming problems in the Military.

A central task in military leadership is to take care of one's followers, which presupposes knowledge about relevant risk factors. Very little research has focused on the risks of developing problematic gaming behavior during military service. The present study tries to bridge this gap by assessing prevalence rates and associated risk factors of problem gaming in a sample of Norwegian conscripts across two time-points: at the beginning and end of duty. The sample comprised 2,555 individuals aged 18–24 years. A total of 1,017 (39.8%) completed the questionnaire at Time 1, ~1 month after starting the military service. Respondents who completed the first wave, at enrollment, were invited to participate in wave two, after completing their service. At Time 2, 259 (25.5%) participants responded. The prevalence rates of gaming addiction were 0.5% at Time 1 and 4.6% at Time 2, while problem gaming use was reported by 4.8% of the sample at Time 1 and 8.1% of the sample at Time 2. Paired sample t -tests revealed an overall significant increase in the mean scores on the Gaming Addiction Scale from T1 (M = 0.86, SD = 1.35) to T2 (M = 1.31, SD = 2.14), t = −2.40, p < 0.05. According to the reliable change index, 17.1% of the sample showed a reliable negative change, whereas 8.3% exhibited a reliable positive change in gaming addiction scores. However, no psychological variables measured at T1 (loneliness, boredom proneness-Internal, boredom proneness-External, anxiety, depression, game addiction, and time spent gaming) were related to attrition (from T1 to T2), or worsening of game addiction, while a positive relationship was observed between boredom proneness-External and reduced gaming addiction from T1 to T2. In sum, we observed a tendency toward a negative change in gaming behaviors during military service which may complicate the soldiers' reintegration into civilian life after their service. More research is needed to assess potential gaming problems in the Military. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human growth process is influenced not only by genetic factors but also by environmental factors. Therefore, regional differences in mean body heights may exist within a population or a state. In the present study, we described and evaluated the regional trends in mean body heights in the nine Austrian provinces over a period spanning more than four decades. Body height data of 1734569 male conscripts born in Austria with Austrian citizenship between 1961 and 2002 were anonymized and analyzed. From 1961 to 2002 birth cohorts, an overall increase in the mean body height of Austrian recruits was observed, although regional differences were evident. Regions with shorter body heights in the 1961–1963 birth cohorts showed a particularly pronounced increase in mean body heights. Meanwhile, the course of body height growth in the capital city, Vienna, was striking, where the highest body heights were documented for the 1961–1963 birth cohorts. In Vienna, mean body heights continued to decline until the 1984 birth cohort and increased again from the 1988 birth cohorts. In addition to economic factors, increased stress factors in an urban environment and a form of urban penalty are discussed as causes. • Body height of Austrian conscript increased for all birth cohorts. • Regions with shorter body heights at the beginning showed a pronounced increase. • Vienna presented a deviating trend compared to the rest of provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Finland, the development of oral health in young, 19- to 21-year-old males regarding restorative treatment need seems to have slowed down according to cross-sectional conscript studies between 1976 and 2011. At the individual level, the mean number of decayed teeth (DT > 0) has also steadily continued to decline. In Finland, military service is mandatory, and around 85% of males complete it. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the oral health status of young men at the beginning of the 2020s. Methods: The data were collected in July 2021 in the eight biggest Finnish Defence force garrisons by ten calibrated dentists serving in the ranks. The inclusion criteria for this study were a year of birth between 2000 and 2002 and male gender (n = 508). Third molars were included. Restorative treatment need was evaluated using ICDAS scoring. The study was designed according to the STROBE guidelines. Results: Mean DT value was 1.13 when third molars were included and 1.03 when they were excluded. Mean DMFT value was 3.23 and 2.98, respectively. The proportion of conscripts with DT > 0 was 36.4% and 34.8%, respectively. The prevalence of caries was concentrated among a small number of conscripts. Most (76.5%) had BEWE (basic erosive wear examination) of 0–2. Conscripts in the moderate and severe ETW (erosive tooth wear) groups (BEWE 3–13) comprised 23.5% of the cohort. None of the conscripts fell into the most severe group (BEWE 14–18). Conclusions: The oral health of conscripts has improved over the last ten years, and restorative treatment need has decreased significantly. Compared to previous studies, restorative treatment need was concentrated on an even smaller proportion of conscripts.

Abstract Background Accurate estimates of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in different population groups are important for the health authorities. In Norway, public infection control measures have successfully curbed the pandemic. However, military training and service are incompatible with these measures; therefore extended infection control measures were implemented in the Norwegian Armed Forces. We aimed to describe these measures, discuss their value, and investigate the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) prevalence and seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2, as well as changes in antibody titer levels over the 6‐week military training period in a young, asymptomatic population of conscripts. Methods In April 2020, 1170 healthy conscripts (median age 20 years) enrolled in military training. Extended infection control measures included a pre‐enrollment telephone interview, self‐imposed quarantine, questionnaires, and serial SARS‐CoV‐2 testing. At enrollment, questionnaires were used to collect information on symptoms, and SARS‐CoV‐2 rapid antibody testing was conducted. Serial SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR and serology testing were used to estimate the prevalence of confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 and monitor titer levels at enrollment, and 3 and 6 weeks thereafter. Results At enrollment, only 0.2% of conscripts were SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR‐positive, and seroprevalence was 0.6%. Serological titer levels increased nearly 5‐fold over the 6‐week observation period. Eighteen conscripts reported mild respiratory symptoms during the 2 weeks prior to enrollment (all were PCR‐negative; one was serology‐positive), whereas 17 conscripts reported respiratory symptoms and nine had fever at enrollment (all were PCR‐ and serology‐negative). Conclusions The prevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 was less than 1% in our sample of healthy Norwegian conscripts. Testing of asymptomatic conscripts seems of no value in times of low COVID‐19 prevalence. SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody titer levels increased substantially over time in conscripts with mild symptoms.

Introduction: Body mass index (BMI) is a composite variable of weight and height, often used as a predictor of health outcomes, including mortality. The main purpose of combining weight and height in one variable is to obtain a measure of obesity independent of height. It is however unclear how accurate BMI is as a predictor of mortality compared with models including both weight and height or a weight × height interaction as predictors. Methods: The current study used conscription data on weight, height, and BMI of Swedish men (N = 48,904) in 1969/70 as well as linked data on mortality (3442 deaths) between 1969 and 2008. Cox proportional hazard models including combinations of weight, height, and BMI at conscription as predictors of subsequent all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality were fitted to data. Results: An increase by one standard deviation on weight and BMI were associated with an increase in hazard for all‐cause mortality by 5.4% and 11.5%, respectively, while an increase by one standard deviation on height was associated with a decrease in hazard for all‐cause mortality by 9.4%. The best‐fitting model indicated lowest predicted all‐cause mortality for those who weighed 60.5 kg at conscription, regardless of height. Further analyses of cause‐specific mortality suggest that this weight seems to be a compromise between lower optimal weights to avoid cancer and CVD mortality and a higher optimal weight to not die by suicide. Conclusions: According to the present findings, there are several ways to make better use of measured weight and height than to calculate BMI when predicting mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Good health status and adequate physical performance are required for serving as conscripts. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to assess the impact of common fitness tests on military specific skills. Methods: 24 conscripts (N=24, age 19.4 ± 0.9 years, height 179.0 ± 5.1, weight 80.6 ± 16.8) of an infantry platoon completed a medical check, anthropometric assessment and isometric power tests of upper and lower extremities within a pre selection phase 10 to 16 months before military mandatory. During military mandatory a motoric test battery, a military specific test (MST), a 2400m run and a military march were conducted. Results: All strength parameters except leg press (LP) correlated significantly with the MST and military march (p>0.005). Isometric strength tests showed the lowest relationship to MST. The strongest predictors for MST (R²= 0.58) were seated bench pull (sbPull, p=0.007) and push up (p = 0.038). Push up (p≤0.001) and core strength (p=0.034) were the best predictors (R²=0.60) for the military march. Derived VO2max was found to be a stronger predictor than 2400m running time alone for MST (p≤0.001, R²=0.38) and march (p≤001, R²=0.49). In a second step all significant predictors of MST and military march were included in a multiple linearregression. For MST the best predictors (R²= 0.63) were VO2max.(p=0.008) and seated bench pull (p≤0.001). For military march VO2max (p≤0.001) and core strength (p=0.006) were the strongest predictors (R²=0.64). Conclusion: VO2maxderived from the 2400m running test was the strongest predictor for MST and military march. Core stability and seated bench press significantly influenced military march and MST outcomes respectively. Isometric strength tests from pre-service selection revealed no significant relationship of military specific skills, which questions their predictive validity and purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of the study was to monitor trends in socioeconomic inequalities in body mass index (BMI), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and muscular strength over several decades in a population of Swedish males aged 18–19 years. The cohort consists of 1.5 million young men attending military conscript examinations from late 1968 to 2005. Parental education was used as a marker for socioeconomic conditions in the conscripts' families of origin. Changing gradient in BMI, CRF, and muscular strength in sons of parents with higher and lower educational attainment was evaluated during four periods covering 36 years. Over the course of the obesity epidemic, BMI remained higher in conscripts with lesser (vs. higher) parental education. Moreover, the absolute difference in obesity prevalence between groups showed a continuous increase, from.6% to 3.9%, indicating growing inequalities. Regarding fitness, lower CRF was consistently associated with less parental education, but with no clear secular trend in the magnitude of the difference. Finally, social differences in muscular strength changed in direction, from lower strength among conscripts with higher parental education in the initial observation period to lower strength associated with lower parental education in the final decade studied. Among Swedish conscripts entering adulthood, social gradients in BMI and obesity widened continuously between 1968 and 2005. An apparent reversal of the earlier gradient in muscular strength in young men may be related to societal trends in occupational and leisure-time physical activity over the observation period. This cohort is being continually monitored through national registries for obesity-related comorbidities in later life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The physical fitness of male conscripts has decreased, and body mass increased during the last few decades, especially in Nordic countries. However, limited research-based reports are available concerning the physical fitness profiles of female recruits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate changes in physical fitness and body composition of female recruits entering voluntary Finnish military service between the years 2005 and 2015.Materials and methods: Data were collected from the initial fitness tests performed in military units during the first 2 weeks of military service. A total of 3,875 healthy female recruits (19.9 ± 2.1 year) participated in the fitness tests. Fitness tests consisted 12-minute running test and muscle fitness tests, which were sit-ups, push-ups, and standing long jump.Results: Increases in mean body mass (4.2%, p ≤ 0.01) and body mass index (3.8%, p < 0.01) were observed between 2005 and 2015. In addition, the proportion of overweight and obese female recruits increased by 12% (p ≤ 0.001). Mean endurance performance and overall muscle fitness remained unaltered during the study period, except for a decline in push-ups performance. However, the proportion of female recruits with poor endurance performance increased from 19.6% to 27.8% (p ≤ 0.001) between 2005 and 2015. Body mass was inversely associated with 12-minute running test distance (r = -0.35, p ≤ 0.001) and muscle fitness index (r = -0.25, p ≤ 0.001).Conclusions: In conclusion, the present study revealed that an increasing proportion of female recruits are overweight and/or have poor endurance performance, which are known risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries and premature discharge from military service. Therefore, specialized training programs should be designed specifically for female recruits with lower levels of fitness prior to military service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to explore how pro-environmental energy behavior is manifested at a military unit and what behavioral change factors can enhance such behavior. The military unit represents an organization dominated by an exceptionally strong sense of community and belonging where individual pro-environmental energy behavior goes in line with a collective one. The application of Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) approach led to a better understanding of energy-saving behavior in the military as an organization where personnel are trained to increase their awareness of their peers’ behavior. Methods: The results were obtained using data collected from two independent samples of both professional soldiers and conscripts at a military unit of Lithuanian defense forces located in a fixed installation in the time frame of 2018−2019. The total sample of respondents (professional soldiers and conscripts) was N = 454. A series of statistical tests were performed at the 0.05 level of confidence. Results: An extended COM-B model for the analysis of pro-environmental energy behavior in the military was proposed and applied. The results show that the three behavioral change factors—capability, opportunity, and motivation—are first of all positively linked with the collective energy behavior at the military unit and only then with the individual soldier’s pro-environmental energy behavior. This is a new insight into the COM-B model as collective and individual behavior are identified as separate indicators and then combined into a single measurable construct. In addition, the results indicate that in the military unit, communality plays an important role in sustaining pro-environmental energy behavior, even if an individual behavior indicates low-involvement.

öProximity to protein production’ has recently been identified as an important determinant of regional variation of biological standards of living, as evidenced by average heights. The number of cows per person turned out to be a useful proxy where milk consumption had not been documented. Re-analyses of agricultural production and average male heights in early 19th-century central Europe show that indicators of agricultural suitability and potential for food production constructed from modern agro-ecological data are strongly correlated with historical agricultural specialisation. This paper uses a dataset of estimated heights and evidence on circumstances of the burial of about 2200 individuals who had lived in southwestern Germany during the 5th–8th centuries to assess the usefulness of modern proxy variables for explanations of regional differences in living standards in the distant past. Assuming some continuity in the relative suitability of smaller areas, the results suggest similar responses to environmental and climatic constraints, even though population density, agricultural technology, market integration, and consumption patterns of subsistence farming were very different from 19th-century conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of the new military units in the North fleet is accompanied by vaccination using Exhausted diphtheria tetanus vaccine, modified. The accination coincides with periods of a rising number of army conscripts being taken ill with community-acquired infection of respiratory tracts: acute tonsillitis, acute bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia. We need to study is to ascertain whether there is the correlation between the periods of the increase in the number of ervicemen fallen ill with community-acquired infection of respiratory tracts and the diphtheria and tetanus vaccination. The study was carried out on the North fleet conscripts who were drawn blood samples from the ulnar vein before and after the vaccination using Exhausted diphtheria tetanus vaccine, modified. The blood was examined for the presence of antibodies to diphtheria and tetanus using direct hemagglutination test. The health status of the vaccinated conscripts was under observation for 4 months, during which acute illnesses (acute tonsillitis, acute bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia) were registered. Serologic testing demonstrated a high rate of immunological protection against diphtheria and tetanus before vaccination. After the diphtheria and tetanus vaccination, the number of conscripts, who were taken ill in the first month, was significantly higher compared to the following months. The conscripts, who fell ill, had high antibody titers against diphtheria and tetanus in the vaccine-challenged period. Vaccination of the servicemen using Exhausted diphtheria tetanus vaccine, modified, is serologically unfounded; it leads to complications such as acute tonsillitis, acute bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia during the vaccinechallenged period especially during the first month and less considerably during the following months.

The paper analyzes of problem of using psycho-correctional methods to optimize the process of conscripts’ adaptation. The experience of Russian psychologists’ using of psycho-correctional methods of with different categories of military men is analyzed. The paper examines the special aspects of using psycho-correctional methods to optimize the process of conscripts’ adaptation.

This article explores how the experience of the conscripts sent to Algeria has been represented in recent publications and cinema, with a particular focus on Laurent Herbiet's 2006 film Mon Colonel. It uses these texts to examine the effect on the conscripts of implementing the counter-insurgency tactics developed by French military officers in the wake of defeat in Indochina. These tactics, centring on information-gathering, control and displacement of populations, propaganda, the struggle for "hearts and minds" through social action and the blurring of the lines between civil, justice and military authorities, pitted the troops against a local indigenous population whose loyalties could never be decided. Pacifiers or warmakers, perpetrators of atrocity or victims themselves of their government and ultimately of the anti-independence Organisation Armée Secrète, the ambiguities of the soldiers' role defy easy representation or a pacified and consensual memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Neisseria meningitidis is transmitted from person-to-person. Thus, close contact with a healthy carrier can facilitate the spread of the bacteria and lead to life-threatening meningococcal disease. The aim of this study was to identify oropharyngeal carriers of N. meningitidis in volunteers preparing for military service before vaccination. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 226 volunteers entering military service were referred to the Shemiranat Health Center for meningococcal vaccination and assayed. Before vaccination, the participants underwent sampling of the throat using separate swabs. Thayer-Martin Agar medium and microbiological standard methods were used for culture and isolation of the organisms. The bacterial isolates were subjected to DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction. The obtained data were descriptively analyzed. Results: Out of the 226 (100%) young volunteers, only 18 (8%) yielded Gram-negative diplococci. The results showed the presence of N. meningitidis (carriage rate: 8%) in their oropharyngeal regions. The isolated serogroups were C, A, Y, W-135, and X with frequencies of 50, 22.2, 16.6, 5.5, and 5.5, respectively. Discussion: This study showed that the carriage rate in young volunteers for military service is around 8% before vaccination. Although the rates for serogroups A and C were dominant, the existence of serogroups Y and W indicate the necessary revision of the A/C vaccine. More research is needed to determine serogroup diversity and decrease the risk of meningococcal disease in individual groups.