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Hope, Religiosity, and Mental Health in U.S. Veterans and Active Duty Military with PTSD Symptoms.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Koenig, HG; Youssef, NA; Smothers, Z; Oliver, JP; Boucher, NA; Ames, D; Volk, F; Teng, EJ; Haynes, K
Published in: Mil Med
February 12, 2020

INTRODUCTION: Many studies have linked hope with better mental health and lower risk of suicide. This is especially true in those who have experienced severe physical or emotional trauma. Religious involvement is associated with greater hope. We examine here the relationship between hope, religiosity, and mental health in a sample of Veterans and Active Duty Military (ADM) with PTSD symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional multi-site study was conducted involving 591 Veterans and ADM from across the United States. Inclusion criteria were having served in a combat theater and the presence of PTSD symptoms. Measures of religiosity, PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety were administered, along with a single question assessing the level of hope on a visual analog scale from 1 to 10. Bivariate and multivariate relationships were examined, along with the moderating effects of religiosity on the relationship between hope and symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. RESULTS: Hope was inversely related to PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms (r = -0.33, -0.56, and -0.40, respectively, all p < 0.0001), but was positively related to religiosity (r = 0.32, p < 0.0001). Religiosity remained significantly related to hope (p < 0.0001) after controlling for demographics, military characteristics, as well as PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms, and this relationship was partly but not entirely mediated by social factors (marital status, relationship quality, community involvement). Religiosity did not, however, moderate the strong inverse relationships between hope and PTSD, depression or anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION: Hope is inversely related to PTSD, depression, and anxiety in Veterans and ADM with PTSD symptoms. Although religiosity is positively related to hope, independent of demographic, military, social, and psychological factors, it does not buffer the negative relationships between hope and PTSD, depression, or anxiety. While further research is warranted, particularly longitudinal studies capable of addressing questions about causality, providing support for the existing religious beliefs of current and former military personnel may help to enhance hope and mental health in the setting of severe combat-related trauma.

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Published In

Mil Med

DOI

EISSN

1930-613X

Publication Date

February 12, 2020

Volume

185

Issue

1-2

Start / End Page

97 / 104

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • United States
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Strategic, Defence & Security Studies
  • Religion
  • Military Personnel
  • Mental Health
  • Humans
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • 4203 Health services and systems
 

Citation

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Chicago
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Koenig, H. G., Youssef, N. A., Smothers, Z., Oliver, J. P., Boucher, N. A., Ames, D., … Haynes, K. (2020). Hope, Religiosity, and Mental Health in U.S. Veterans and Active Duty Military with PTSD Symptoms. Mil Med, 185(1–2), 97–104. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usz146
Koenig, Harold G., Nagy A. Youssef, Zachary Smothers, John P. Oliver, Nathan A. Boucher, Donna Ames, Fred Volk, Ellen J. Teng, and Kerry Haynes. “Hope, Religiosity, and Mental Health in U.S. Veterans and Active Duty Military with PTSD Symptoms.Mil Med 185, no. 1–2 (February 12, 2020): 97–104. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usz146.
Koenig HG, Youssef NA, Smothers Z, Oliver JP, Boucher NA, Ames D, et al. Hope, Religiosity, and Mental Health in U.S. Veterans and Active Duty Military with PTSD Symptoms. Mil Med. 2020 Feb 12;185(1–2):97–104.
Koenig, Harold G., et al. “Hope, Religiosity, and Mental Health in U.S. Veterans and Active Duty Military with PTSD Symptoms.Mil Med, vol. 185, no. 1–2, Feb. 2020, pp. 97–104. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/milmed/usz146.
Koenig HG, Youssef NA, Smothers Z, Oliver JP, Boucher NA, Ames D, Volk F, Teng EJ, Haynes K. Hope, Religiosity, and Mental Health in U.S. Veterans and Active Duty Military with PTSD Symptoms. Mil Med. 2020 Feb 12;185(1–2):97–104.

Published In

Mil Med

DOI

EISSN

1930-613X

Publication Date

February 12, 2020

Volume

185

Issue

1-2

Start / End Page

97 / 104

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • United States
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Strategic, Defence & Security Studies
  • Religion
  • Military Personnel
  • Mental Health
  • Humans
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • 4203 Health services and systems