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Moral injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and religious involvement among U.S. veterans.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Youssef, NA; Boswell, E; Fiedler, S; Jump, R; Lee, E; Yassa, M; Khan, F; Pathiraja, A; Rizk, D; Pearce, M; O'Garo, K; Currier, JM; Koenig, HG
Published in: Ann Clin Psychiatry
May 2018

BACKGROUND: Traumatic experiences can cause ethical conflicts. "Moral injury" (MI) has been used to describe this emotional/cognitive state, and could contribute to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or block its recovery. We examine the relationship between MI and PTSD, and the impact of religious involvement (RI) on that relationship. METHODS: We conducted a study of 120 veterans enrolled at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. Standard measures of PTSD symptoms, MI, and RI were administered. Regression models were used to examine correlates of PTSD symptoms and the moderating or mediating effects of RI. RESULTS: A strong relationship was found between MI and PTSD symptoms (r = 0.54, P ≤ .0001), and between MI and RI (r = -.41, P ≤ .0001), but only a weak relationship was found between RI and PTSD symptoms (r = -.17, P = .058). RI did not mediate or moderate the relationship between MI and PTSD symptoms in the overall sample. However, among non-Middle Eastern war theater veterans, a significant buffering effect of religiosity was found. CONCLUSIONS: MI has a strong positive relationship with PTSD symptoms and an inverse relationship with RI. RI did not mediate or moderate the relationship between MI and PTSD in the overall sample, but it moderated this relationship in non-Middle Eastern war theater veterans.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ann Clin Psychiatry

EISSN

1547-3325

Publication Date

May 2018

Volume

30

Issue

2

Start / End Page

113 / 121

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • United States
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Religion
  • Psychiatry
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hospitals, Veterans
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Youssef, N. A., Boswell, E., Fiedler, S., Jump, R., Lee, E., Yassa, M., … Koenig, H. G. (2018). Moral injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and religious involvement among U.S. veterans. Ann Clin Psychiatry, 30(2), 113–121.
Youssef, Nagy A., Elizabeth Boswell, Shashana Fiedler, Rebecca Jump, Elizabeth Lee, Mark Yassa, Fazal Khan, et al. “Moral injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and religious involvement among U.S. veterans.Ann Clin Psychiatry 30, no. 2 (May 2018): 113–21.
Youssef NA, Boswell E, Fiedler S, Jump R, Lee E, Yassa M, et al. Moral injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and religious involvement among U.S. veterans. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2018 May;30(2):113–21.
Youssef, Nagy A., et al. “Moral injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and religious involvement among U.S. veterans.Ann Clin Psychiatry, vol. 30, no. 2, May 2018, pp. 113–21.
Youssef NA, Boswell E, Fiedler S, Jump R, Lee E, Yassa M, Khan F, Pathiraja A, Rizk D, Pearce M, O’Garo K, Currier JM, Koenig HG. Moral injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and religious involvement among U.S. veterans. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2018 May;30(2):113–121.

Published In

Ann Clin Psychiatry

EISSN

1547-3325

Publication Date

May 2018

Volume

30

Issue

2

Start / End Page

113 / 121

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • United States
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Religion
  • Psychiatry
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hospitals, Veterans