International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy
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Volume 26 Num. 2 - June 2026

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Psychological Predictors of Alcohol Misuse in Wartime Military Personnel

Volume 26 Num. 2 - June 2026 - Pages 205-219

Authors:

Oleksandr Kolesnichenko , Yurii Rumiantsev , Kateryna Marushchenko , Andrii Pashchenko , Vira Kramchenkova , Anastasiia Bolshakova , Olena Bilyk , Stanislav Larionov , Natalii Storozhuk , Viacheslav Oliinyk

Abstract:

The study aimed to identify psychological characteristics associated with susceptibility to alcohol abuse and to analyze the heterogeneity of psychological profiles among military personnel who commit alcohol-related incidents while performing their official duties. The study was conducted between 2022 and 2025, and the respondents were military personnel from the Ukrainian security and defense sector. The total sample consisted of 1,760 participants, including 950 military personnel assigned to a control group characterized by normative behavior and the absence of alcohol-related incidents, and 810 military personnel who had been subject to disciplinary or administrative responsibility for offenses committed while intoxicated. Within the Case Group, several psychologically distinct subgroups were identified, exhibiting varying levels of adaptive potential, self-regulation, motivational characteristics, and resilience to combat-related stress. The results revealed substantial differences between the Control and Case groups. Military personnel without alcohol-related incidents showed a more balanced psychological profile, higher levels of self-regulation, adaptive resources, and intrinsically driven professional motivation. In contrast, the group of military personnel with alcohol-related incidents showed reduced adaptive potential, impaired self-regulation mechanisms, motivational disorganization, and increased emotional tension in the context of accumulated combat stress. The study’s findings highlight the heterogeneity of the psychological pathways leading to alcohol-related behavior in wartime, confirming the multidimensionality of the psychological determinants of alcohol-related incidents in combat military personnel. The results support the conclusion that alcohol-related incidents in the military context should not be considered a uniform or merely disciplinary phenomenon, requiring psychological analysis and specific psychological support measures. They also allow for discussion of the practical importance of the study, its possible application to the development of programs for the psychological prevention of addictive behaviors, the promotion of self-regulation, and the maintenance of the psychological resilience of military personnel during prolonged wars.

How to cite this paper:
Kolesnichenko O, Rumiantsev Y, Marushchenko K, Pashchenko A, Kramchenkova V, Bolshakova A, Bilyk O, Larionov S, Storozhuk N, & Oliinyk V (2026). Psychological Predictors of Alcohol Misuse in Wartime Military Personnel. International Journal of Psychology & Psychological Therapy, 26, 2, 205-219

Key words:

military personnel, war, alcohol-related incidents, addictive behavior, self-regulation, adaptive potential, combat stress, psychological resilience

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