Intervention of best possible self for mental health in new recruits during intensive training

To investigate the intervention efficacy of best possible self (BPS) on the mental health of new recruits (including state optimism and pessimism, perceived stress and subjective well-being).

A non-randomized controlled trial was conducted on 212 new recruits subjected with cluster sampling from an army unit in a training base for new recruits in September 2023.Based on their organizational structure, they were divided into a study group (n=100, receiving BPS intervention 15 min/d, for 2 consecutive weeks) and a control group [n=112, typical day (TD) intervention, 15 min/d, same period].Future Expectancy Scale (FEX), Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS), Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used to measure the 2 groups of participants at T0 (baseline), T1 (end of the first week of intervention), T2 (end of the second week of intervention) and T3 (1 week after the end of intervention) in order to evaluate the intervention efficacy on above mentioned mental health indicators.

There were no significant differences in demographic and baseline psychological variables listed above between the 2 groups.However, as the training progressed, obvious differences were observed in the training effects on state pessimism, perceived stress and subjective well-being (including affective and cognitive well-being) between them.When compared with the baseline data (T0), the study group had notably reduced state pessimism (P<0.01) and elevated affective (P<0.001) and cognitive well-being (P<0.001) during T1 and T3, and decreased perceived stress at T1 (P<0.05) and T3 (P<0.001). However, no such changes of above indicators were observed in the control group before and after training.

A 2-week BPS intervention can effectively reduce state pessimism and perceived stress, promote subjective well-being, and improve mental health in new recruits during new recruit training.