Causes and Consequences of Barracks Isolation

摘要

Soldiers were classified as barrack isolates or non-isolates on the basis of self-report and supervisors' ratings regarding use of off duty time at six weeks and again at six months. Soldiers were tested on cognitive and perceptual skills upon arrival and again at six months and were surveyed for career and enlistment intentions, attitudes and behavior on arrival, at six weeks and again at six months. Performance ratings were obtained at six weeks and six months. The pretests of cognitive and perceptual skills indicated no initial difference between isolates and non-isolates at the point of arrival. The posttest after six months indicates that isolates scored significantly lower than non-isolates on cognitive skills. No differences were found on perceptual skills. Performance rating indicates that by six weeks the isolate is a poorer performer in some areas and by six months the differences are significant for most performance indices.