Psychosocial effects of the boot strap intervention in navy recruits

Abstract

The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the effects of the Boot Camp Survival Training for Navy Recruits-A Prescription (BOOT STRAP) intervention on stress, depression, situational events, interpersonal factors, and recruit training performance. Divisions of Navy recruits were randomly selected and 801 recruits participated for the 9 weeks of their training. Recruits "at risk" for depression were randomly assigned to the intervention or nonintervention groups, and the remaining recruits served as the comparison group. The at-risk recruits who received the BOOT STRAP intervention significantly increased their sense of belonging, experienced less loneliness, used more problem-solving coping skills, and decreased insecure attachment by the end of recruit training. Percentages of recruits in the study successfully completing basic training were 84% of the comparison group, 86% of the intervention group, and only 74% of the nonintervention group. Results suggest that the BOOT STRAP intervention improves recruit functioning, strengthens training performance, helps reduce attrition, and may have important implications for stress and depression interventions. Copyright © by Association of Military Surgeons of U.S., 2004.