The purpose of this study was to measure the level of stress and symptoms of stress (SOS) in soldiers and to investigate the factors that have effects on the symptoms of stress.

Data was collected from soldiers of two military units located in north Kyounggi-Do from August 2 to 9, 2006 by using the survey instruments.

This research found that the average values on the level of stress and symptoms of stress were about 2.53±0.60 (range 1.00-4.35) and 0.95±0.55 (range 0.04-2.83), respectively. The things which affected symptoms of stress, according to this study, were the external factors in the military (β=.28, p<.001), role and relation factors (β=.21, p<.001), work factors (β=.15, p=.01) and passive coping styles (β=.19, p<.001). These variables explained 28% (F=36.68, p<.001) of the variance of the total symptoms of stress.

This study suggests that soldiers need to under go stress management.