The Association between Perfectionism, Suicidal Ideation and Psychological Distress among Military Unit Leaders: The Moderating Role of Work-Related Stress and Social Support

Military squad commanders often operate in a challenging environment, in a role that is characterized by multiple demands. These are young adults during an age period characterized by many changes and conflicts- emotional, familial, professional and social.

These commanders, some of whom are characterized by high perfectionism, are placed in demanding roles. The literature suggests that perfectionism is associated with mental distress and suicidal ideation. Despite the broad theoretical discussion on the association between perfectionism, mental distress, and suicidal ideation, there has not been adequate research that addresses the factors that may affect this association. Therefore, the current study aims to examine the association between perfectionism and suicidal ideation and mental distress, as well as to examine the moderating roles of work- related stress and social support in this association. The study relies on the stress- diathesis theoretical model, according to which a person has a predisposition that creates a vulnerability for mental difficulties, and it is the interaction between this predisposition and stress that results in mental distress and suicidal ideation (Monroe et al., 2014; Monroe & Simons, 1991). 

The current study was approved by the Israeli Military Research Division and the Military Ethics Committee and included 114 squad commanders, aged 18-23, during their mandatory service. Participants completed online questionnaires, including the following scales: mental distress, suicidal ideation, perfectionism, work-related stress, perceived social support and a demographic questionnaire. The findings suggest that socially prescribed perfectionism is positively associated with mental distress, while no associations were found between mental distress and the two other dimensions of perfectionism - self-oriented and other-oriented perfectionism. In addition, higher levels of mental distress were found among squad commanders with poorer economic status, as well as those treated by military mental health professionals.

The findings of the regression analysis indicate that perfectionism contributes positively to the explanation of mental distress.  Work related stress and social support were not found to be moderating variables. However, they contribute significantly to explaining mental distress, so that higher work -related stress and lower social support are associated with higher levels of mental distress. Due to the small variance in suicidal ideation, this variable was not included in the data analysis.                

The main finding of the current study is that there is an association between socially prescribed perfectionism and mental distress, i.e., the higher the level of perfectionism, the greater the degree of mental distress (Hewitt, Flett, Besser, et al., 2003). This finding broadens our understanding of perfectionism as a complex concept, which includes personal and interpersonal aspects. This finding is consistent with previous literature that reports that amongst the different components of perfectionism, the strongest association is between mental distress and socially prescribed perfectionism. It is feasible that this finding can be explained in terms of maladaptive psychological characteristics– a belief that high standards and requirements directed from the outside relate to 'external locus of control' and a feeling of lack of control. The results of the study shed light on the complex association between perfectionism and mental distress, and thus may help both mental health professionals in the military and military commanders. Commanders may benefit from tools that will assist them in supporting subordinates who are characterized by high socially prescribed perfectionism. The findings of the study are important for diagnostic and screening processes, as well as therapeutic processes.

In the organizational aspect, as workload is a factor associated with mental distress (Pines, 2003), it is necessary to examine ways in which to ease the workload. In addition, the negative association between social support and mental distress which was found in this study calls for the need to apply group interventions to improve social skills among military class commanders.