The Experience of Male Soldiers During Peacekeeping Missions: A Qualitative Study

In the last 20 years the demand for peacekeeping operations has significantly increased, and today there are close to 1 million peacekeepers worldwide. The aim of this qualitative study was to extend past research on peacekeeping by investigating the psychological experiences of Italian peacekeepers during their missions in war contexts. Thirty male peacekeepers aged 28–41 were recruited and interviewed. A thematic analysis was carried out and involved line-by-line coding with codes deriving from narratives. Five major themes emerged: the motivations to participate in an operation; the group as a buffer against combat-related stress; the hardest aspects of the experience; coping strategies toward the mission, perceived as a life-or-death experience; and benefits and negative consequences after going back home. The relevance of these issues is discussed. Findings can help in developing training and support programs tailored at operational demands that are distinctive for this kind of high-stress occupation.