Perception of operational environment conditions and situations as a prediction of adaptive potential in servicemen

The aim of the study is to define the adaptive potential of servicemen participating in warfare based on the formation of their perceptions related to operational environment conditions and characteristics of heart rate variability (HRV). Materials and methods. 70 combatants – men aged 22–30 years were examined. According to a specially designed questionnaire that reflected the issue of combat and deployment life factors among servicemen in the operational environment, an assessment of their perceptions related to the impact of internal and external factors was conducted. The HRV parameters of the studied servicemen were determined by standard methods using computer rhythmograph. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the methods of parametric (Student’s t-test) and non-parametric statistics (Wilcoxon’s T-test), cluster, step-by-step multiple correlation and step-by-step discriminant analysis using software package Statistica 13.3. Results. The studied contingent was divided into two “hypersusceptible” and “hypоsusceptible” groups based on the use of their perceptions related to the operational environment factors. It has been noted that group 1 had greater values of median profiles than group 2. The differentiation of the studied contingent into groups of “hypersusceptible” and “hyposusceptible” to harmful operational environment factors was more noticeable when applying criteria of deployment life factors. HRV values (LFnorm, HFnorm and LF/HF) differed significantly in both examined groups. It has been found that the multiple correlation coefficient value for group 1 was R = 0.61 (P < 0.007), and for group 2 – R = 0.83 (P < 0.00009), indicating the presence of a stronger link between the level of adaptability and the parameters of heart rate regulation among “hyposusceptible” servicemen. The developed decisive rules allow identifying the adaptive potential level in servicemen by assessing the effects of combat factors and deployment life. Conclusions. Among the operational environment factors, the deployment factors have been found to be the most significant, suggesting that these characteristics were the most susceptible to harmful operational environment factors in combatants. The analysis of the HRV characteristics in servicemen with “hypersusceptibility” and “hyposusceptibility” to the operational environment factors has shown the higher adaptive potential in representatives of “hyposusceptible” serviceman group. The decision support mo