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PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper highlights the topic of combat-related acute stress reactions (ASRs) in service members. Specifically, we contrast ASRs with related psychiatric conditions, report the estimated prevalence of ASRs for soldiers deployed to combat, and discuss how team members can effectively respond to these reactions. RECENT FINDINGS: Although not regarded as a clinical disorder, ASRs can have a significant impact on high-risk occupations like the military in which impaired functioning can imperil team members and others. Based on self-report, 17.2% of soldiers who have deployed to combat report having experienced a possible ASR. To our knowledge, this is the first such prevalence estimate. SUMMARY: The prevalence of ASRs underscores the need for improved prevention, management, and recovery strategies. Peer-based intervention protocols such as iCOVER may provide a useful starting point to address ASRs in team members.

Research has shown that urban-residing African American women engage in volunteer work at impressive rates. However, few studies have empirically assessed the factors that account for volunteerism within this population. This study explores the relationship between demographic variables, early religious involvement, current religious involvement, empathy, perspective taking, and volunteer engagement among African American women residing in a large urban center ( N = 211). Findings from multivariate analyses revealed that current religious involvement positively predicted women's volunteer engagement. Age was found to negatively predict volunteer engagement but positively predict the number of hours women spend volunteering per year. The implications of these findings are discussed and future lines of research considered.

Worldviews—a person's fundamental perspectives on social and metaphysical reality—relate to multiple aspects of psychological functioning and well-being. Theory on emerging adulthood contends that individuals between the ages of 18 and 29 explore and change their worldviews as they strive to develop a coherent identity. Simultaneously, emerging adults experience many significant life events. The relationship between life events and worldview development in emerging adulthood has yet to be investigated. We conducted a longitudinal analysis of changes in emerging adult college students' ( N = 168) worldviews over the course of a semester and explored how positive and negatives life events were associated with belief change. Findings revealed that 76.8% of emerging adults in our sample experienced a reliable change in at least one worldview. Additionally, the positive impact of life events was found to mitigate decreases in self-worth beliefs. We conclude by highlighting implications for theory and suggesting future lines of research.

Yoga interventions have considerable heterogeneity, are multi-dimensional, and may impact health in different ways. However, most research reports regarding the effects of yoga on health and wellbeing do not adequately describe the components of the yoga interventions being used. Thus, drawing comparisons across studies or understanding the relative effects of specific aspects of a yoga intervention are rarely possible. To address this problem, we created the Essential Properties of Yoga Questionnaire (EPYQ) Project, an NCCAM-funded set of studies to develop a translational tool for yoga researchers. Here we describe the methods and developmental processes used in the EPYQ Project in detail. The project consists of four main phases. Phase I was designed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the relevant aspects of yoga by conducting a comprehensive systematic literature review and conducting focus groups with stakeholders including a wide variety of yoga teachers and students. In Phase II, a pool of potential questionnaire items was developed for the prototypic questionnaire using information from Phase I. Cognitive interviews were conducted with the preliminary EPYQ items to assess the perceived clarity, meaning, and importance of each item. In Phase III, the prototypic questionnaire was administered to two large samples of yoga students and instructors. Military personnel and veterans who practiced or taught yoga (n = 329) were recruited to participate. Factor analysis and item response theory were used to identify factors and select the final questionnaire items. Phase IV is ongoing and will collect reliability and validity data on the final instrument. Results are expected to be available in 2016. The EPYQ will provide an objective tool for describing the amount of various components of yoga interventions, eventually allowing researchers to link specific yoga components to health benefits, and facilitating the design of yoga interventions for specific health conditions.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have documented the impact of domain-specific leadership behaviors on targeted health outcomes in employees. The goal of the present study was to determine the association between specific leadership behaviors addressing COVID-19 and US soldiers' mental health and adherence to COVID-19 public health guidelines. METHODS: An electronic, anonymous survey was administered to US Army soldiers across three major commands (N = 7,829) from December 2020 to January 2021. The primary predictor of interest was soldiers' ratings of their immediate supervisors' behaviors related to COVID-19. The outcomes were soldiers' mental health (i.e., depression and generalized anxiety) and adherence to COVID-19 public health guidelines. Covariates were rank, gender, ratings of immediate supervisors' general leadership, level of COVID-19 concerns, and COVID-19 status (e.g., tested positive, became seriously ill). Logistic regressions were used to model the unique association of COVID-19 leadership behaviors with outcomes after adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: High levels of COVID-19 leadership behaviors were associated with lesser likelihood of soldiers' screening positive for depression (AOR = 0.46; 95% CI [0.39, 0.54]) and anxiety (AOR = 0.54; 95% CI [0.45, 0.64]), and greater likelihood of frequent adherence to preventive health guidelines (AORs = 1.58; 95% CI [1.39, 1.80] to 2.50; 95% CI [2.01, 3.11]). CONCLUSION: Higher levels of COVID-19 leadership behaviors may support soldiers' mental health and encourage their adherence to COVID-19 public health guidelines. Given the link between these leader behaviors and soldier adaptation to the pandemic over and above general leadership, training for supervisors should focus on targeting specific health-promoting behaviors. Results can inform leader training for the military and other high-risk occupations.