Test of a Model Incorporating Stress,Strain, and Disintegration in the Cohesion-Performance Relation1

This study proposes that stress, strain, and group disintegration are important concepts in studying cohesion's relation to performance. Data were obtained from 9,013 U.S. Army soldiers (in the ranks of Private through Staff Sergeant) in 112 companies representing units in both the U.S. and Europe. Results showed that stress, strain, and disintegration added significant, albeit small amounts of variance to perceived individual and group combat performance. The cohesion component, team task support as opposed to peer emotional support, showed the strongest relation to perceived individual and group combat performance, and showed the strongest buffering and mediating effects on the relation of stress to perceived combat performance.