Resources and Anti-Resources of Defensive and Coping Behavior of First-Year Cadets

Introduction. The authors carried out a research on the main stressors, resources and means of overcoming difficulties used by first-year cadets. The aim of the research is to reveal the primary difficulties which are subjectively essential for cadets as well as resources and means to overcome them. Materials and Methods. To achieve the results of the study, the cadets were asked questions about the key positive and negative events of the previous year, as well as resources that helped them overcome difficulties and anti-resources that prevent them from achieving their goals. Psychological tests were employed. Results and Discussion. Positive events for the majority of cadets were «admission to a military university», «vacation», «passing the exams». The negative ones included «epidemic», «restrictions of the new conditions of the university», «separation from relatives», «restrictions of activities due to the pandemic». The cadets enumerated such anti-resources of overcoming difficulties as «new conditions (unfamiliar, difficult to overcome)», «lack of free time», as well as a number of their own personal qualities and states («laziness», «lack of self-confidence», «bad mood», «strong feelings/fears», «strong sense of responsibility», etc.). First-year cadets' dominant resource of coping behaviour is a social resource (parents’ faith, friends' support, the opportunity to seek advice from seniors, faculty officers, teachers). The average profile of defensive and coping behavior of first-year cadets is represented by proactive, reflexive and preventive overcoming. The profile of defensive behavior has intensive mature and immature mechanisms (rationalization, sublimation, compensation, denial). Conclusions. Significant events in the life of first-year cadets are associated with their admission to a military university. The negative ones include «epidemic», «restrictions of activities at the school due to the pandemic». The cadets’ leading external resources are mainly represented by their parents, close friends, course officers, military staff. Internal resources include personal qualities, states, motivational attitudes. Immature psychological defenses are used by cadets with low resilience. Youths with a high level of resilience in a stressful situation resort to various strategies of proactive overcoming.