PSYCHOLOGICAL ENDURANCE IN THE MILITARY CONTEXT: THE IMPACT OF RUMINATION ON COGNITIVE REGULATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/psych.studies/2025.2.1Keywords:
psychological endurance, rumination, psychological resilience, military psychology, cognitive regulation, stress, reflection, metacognitive therapy, post-traumatic growthAbstract
The article explores psychological endurance as a key factor in the adaptation of military personnel to combat stress, prolonged threat, and loss. Particular attention is given to rumination (repetitive negative thinking) as a process that can both undermine and enhance endurance. Rumination is examined in two principal forms: a maladaptive form (characterised by brooding and intrusive memories), which depletes emotional and cognitive resources; and an adaptive form (reflection and conscious processing of experience), which supports trauma integration and psychological growth. The mechanisms through which rumination impacts mental functioning are analysed, including emotional exhaustion, reduced self-regulation, physiological strain, and disrupted social interaction. The study emphasises that effective psychological support must be grounded in the distinction between types of rumination, individual assessment of military personnel psychological states, and the application of integrative psychotherapeutic approaches, namely, cognitive-behavioural, metacognitive, narrative, and group therapy. The preservation and development of psychological endurance are presented not only as critical for operational performance but also as a foundation for successful post-traumatic adaptation. Endurance is thus conceptualised as an active capacity to maintain personal integrity under prolonged extreme stress. Future research should focus on a deeper investigation of the relationship between rumination and psychological endurance in combat and post-combat contexts, the refinement of psychodiagnostic tools to distinguish between adaptive and maladaptive ruminative thinking, and the evaluation of psychological interventions aimed at supporting internal resources of military personnel. Special attention should be paid to the role of sociocultural factors in shaping rumination and its function in post-traumatic adaptation and personal growth. A multidisciplinary approach is proposed to enhance our understanding of psychological endurance as a dynamic resource in extreme environments.
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