Coping as a Moderator for the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Satisfaction with Life in the Group of Uniformed Personnel Treated in Mental Health Clinic.

Background/

Objectives

Uniformed personnel are highly exposed to occupational stress, which increases the risk of mental health problems. This study examined whether coping styles moderate the relationship between perceived stress and satisfaction with life among uniformed personnel treated for bodily distress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 183 participants (81% male, aged 30-66 years). Standardized questionnaires were administered: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Pearson correlations with 95% confidence intervals were computed, and moderation analyses were conducted using separate regression models for each coping style with bootstrap estimation (1000 samples). Gender differences were examined using t-tests with Cohen's d.

Results

Perceived stress was negatively correlated with life satisfaction (r = -0.43, 95% CI [-0.54, -0.29], moderate effect). Emotion-oriented coping correlated negatively with life satisfaction (r = -0.28, 95% CI [-0.42, -0.14]), while social diversion correlated positively (r = 0.21, 95% CI [0.07, 0.35]). Women reported higher stress (Cohen's d = 0.60) and lower life satisfaction (Cohen's d = -0.50) than men. Moderation analysis revealed that emotion-oriented coping significantly intensified the negative effect of stress on life satisfaction (B = -0.01, p = 0.019).

Conclusions

Perceived stress strongly impairs life satisfaction in uniformed personnel, particularly among those relying on emotion-oriented coping. Targeted interventions, such as emotion regulation training, mindfulness, and cognitive restructuring, may enhance resilience and mitigate stress-related declines in well-being in this high-risk occupational group.