Pastoral care use among post-9/11 veterans who screen positive for mental health problems.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
As a result of their military experience, veterans with mental health problems may have unique motivations for seeking help from clergy. Patterns and correlates of seeking pastoral care were examined using a nationwide representative survey that was conducted among veterans of post-9/11 conflicts (adjusted N = 1,068; 56% response rate). Separate multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine veteran characteristics associated with seeking pastoral care and seeking mental health services. Among post-9/11 veterans with a probable mental disorder (n = 461)-defined as a positive screen for posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, or alcohol misuse-20.2% reported talking to a "pastoral counselor" in the preceding year, 44.7% reported talking to a mental health professional, and 46.6% reported talking to neither. In a multivariate analysis for veterans with a probable mental disorder, seeing a pastoral counselor was associated with an increased likelihood of seeing a mental health professional in the past year (OR: 2.16; 95% CI: [1.28, 3.65]). In a separate bivariate analysis, pastoral counselors were more likely to be seen by veterans who indicated concerns about stigma or distrust of mental health care. These results suggest that pastoral and mental health care services may complement one another and underscore the importance of enhancing understanding and collaboration between these disciplines so as to meet the needs of the veterans they serve.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Nieuwsma, JA; Fortune-Greeley, AK; Jackson, GL; Meador, KG; Beckham, JC; Elbogen, EB
Published Date
- August 2014
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 11 / 3
Start / End Page
- 300 - 308
PubMed ID
- 24933105
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC4115030
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1939-148X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1037/a0037065
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States