A strengthening experience? Mental distress during military service. A study of Norwegian army conscripts

Conscription compels 70% of male Norwegians to invest 1 year of their lives in military training. For 19-to 20-year-old men, the military service is an important arena of secondary socialization. In a cross-sectional study of mental health in army conscripts using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the case prevalence was 48% (cut-off 2/3). This was remarkably high, given that the study population had been screened for mental disease on several occasions, and a large number of recruits with symptoms of mental disease had been excluded before the survey began. Statistical analyses indicated that the high case prevalence was mainly due to situational factors. Four dimensions were identified: (1) social relations with officers, peers and family, (2) structural factors inherent in the system of obligatory military service, (3) the meaningfulness of daily tasks and (4) financial problems. GHQ caseness was statistically associated with physical inactivity and consumption of junk-food, tobacco, alcohol and cannabis. It is concluded that military service in its present form may have undesirable consequences both for civilian society and for military efficiency. Recruits need help to cope with the complex psychosocial and transactional challenges of military service.