Construction of a group psychological training program for junior officers based on competency model and its effectiveness evaluation

To construct a group psychological training for junior officers based on competency model and explore its intervention effect on competency and mental health of junior officers.

Delphi method was used to construct a group psychological training program for junior officers based on competency model. A total of 63 junior officers were subjected with convenience sampling during October and November 2023. According to the principle of randomized controlled experimental design, the participants were divided into experimental group (n=30) and control group (n=33). The experimental group was given our group psychological training program for totally 8 sessions, 90~120 min per session, 2 sessions per week, while the control group received no such training. Competency scale, 12-item general health questionnaire (GHQ-12), Chinese perceived stress scale (CPSS), and Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) were used to assess the 2 groups before and at the end of intervention.

① The results of the 2 rounds of expert consultation showed that the total recovery rate was 100%, the expert authority coefficient was 0.87, the Kendall's coordination coefficients (ω) of the 2 rounds of expert consultation were 0.102 (P < 0.001) and 0.410 (P < 0.001), respectively, with a coefficients of variation of < 0.3, indicating reliable expert consultation. ② The results of post-intervention time main effect indicated that the total score of competence (P < 0.001), extroversion score (P < 0.05) and responsibility score (P < 0.01) were significantly higher, but the total score of GHQ-12 was obviously lower in the experimental group than the control group (P < 0.001). ③ The results of post-intervention group main effects revealed that the extraversion score of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01). ④ The results of the post-intervention time × group interaction displayed that the experimental group had notably higher total competency score (P < 0.01), job performance score (P < 0.05), extraversion score (P < 0.05), agreeableness score (P < 0.001) and responsibility score (P < 0.01), but lower total GHQ-12 score (P < 0.01) than the control group.

Competency-based modeling group psychological training for junior officers can significantly enhance the competency, strengthen the extroversion, agreeableness and responsibility in personality traits, and thus improve job performance for them.