As relações entre habilidades sociais e estresse ocupacional em submarinistas na Marinha do Brasil

Abstract

The work on a submarine exposes professionals to a high amount of stressful situations. It is therefore necessary that the military is able to deal with stressors in order to avoid compromising their professional performance, health and welfare. Several studies suggest that deficiencies in social skills may also contribute to the development of stress. This study sought to identify possible correlations between social skills and stress in submariners in the Brazilian Navy. The sample consisted of 106 male soldiers, working on submarines. The following instruments were used: (1) Demographic Questionnaire, (2) Social Skills Inventory (IHS), (3) Empathy Inventory (IE) and (4) Lipp Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults (ISSL). The data was analyzed using the Student t-test, Chi-square and Pearson's correlation. The results show that the submariners had a good repertoire of social skills (assertiveness and empathy) and an incidence of stress compatible with the general population. It was also identified that there weren t important differences in social skills (assertive and empathetic) in individuals with and without stress. Moreover, deficiencies in social skills (assertive and empathetic) seems not to be related to higher stress levels, the same way that good social skills don t seem to be related to lower levels of stress. We conclude, therefore, that social skills (assertiveness and empathy) do not seem to have a role in triggering stress in submariners. The results obtained here, although contrary to the literature, are useful in that instigate new research, seeking to obtain better understanding of the relationship between stress and social skills in extreme work contexts, like a submarine.