Thomas Kate H, McDaniel Justin T, Albright David L, Fletcher Kari L, Koenig Harold G
College of Health Sciences, Charleston Southern University, 9200 University Blvd, North Charleston, SC, 29406, USA.
Department of Public Health and Recreation Professions, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA.
J Relig Health. 2018 Jun;57(3):1168-1178. doi: 10.1007/s10943-018-0597-z.
Suicide rates among military veterans exceed those found in the general population. While the exact reasons for these high rates are unknown, contributing factors may include the military's perceived rejection of patient identities, creating barriers to mental health care within the clinical sector and a mandate for prevention programs. Spiritual fitness has emerged over the last decade as an important concept in human performance optimization and is included among holistic approaches to developing and maintaining mentally fit fighting forces. In attempts to better understand the role that spiritual fitness and religion play in mitigating and/or reducing suicide risk among veterans, the aims of this study were twofold (1) to assess the utility of the Duke Religion Index as a psychometric instrument for use with veterans completing spiritual fitness training and (2) to offer a post-intervention process evaluation of the spiritual fitness module from one resilience program offered to military veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan in 2016. Twenty-eight attendees at the JRWI Wellness Resilient Leadership Retreat completed post-retreat surveys to assess their satisfaction with the coursework and specifically, to assess the spiritual fitness module of the resiliency retreat's curriculum. In total, the research team reviewed 25 completed post-intervention survey responses (89.3% response rate). Descriptive statistics indicated that respondents (n = 25) were subjectively religious, defined as belief in a higher power practiced in ritualized ways. Over half of program participants indicated they (a) attended religious meetings at least once a week and (b) engaged in private religious activity-such as meditation-at least once a day. Results showed that most program participants reported that the spiritual fitness skills learned during the resilient leadership program were useful (88%) (Z = 3.000, p < 0.001). Additionally, most program participants reported their interest in spiritual exploration was affirmed, renewed, or raised as a result of attending the peer-led resilient leadership program (76%) (Z = 6.000, p = 0.015). Culturally informed prevention programs that emphasize spiritual fitness are indicated for use in veteran outreach and well-being programs. More detailed research is needed to assess curriculum specifics.
退伍军人的自杀率超过了普通人群。虽然这些高自杀率的确切原因尚不清楚，但促成因素可能包括军队对患者身份的认知排斥、在临床领域为心理健康护理设置障碍以及预防项目的要求。在过去十年中，精神健康已成为人类绩效优化中的一个重要概念，并被纳入培养和维持心理健康作战部队的整体方法之中。为了更好地理解精神健康和宗教在减轻和/或降低退伍军人自杀风险中所起的作用，本研究的目的有两个：（1）评估杜克宗教指数作为一种心理测量工具，用于对完成精神健康训练的退伍军人进行测评的效用；（2）对2016年为伊拉克和阿富汗退伍军人提供的一个复原力项目中的精神健康模块进行干预后过程评估。JRWI健康复原力领导力静修活动的28名参与者在静修活动结束后完成了调查，以评估他们对课程作业的满意度，特别是评估复原力静修课程的精神健康模块。研究团队总共审查了25份完整的干预后调查问卷回复（回复率为89.3%）。描述性统计表明，受访者（n = 25）具有主观宗教信仰，定义为以仪式化方式信仰更高的力量。超过一半的项目参与者表示，他们（a）每周至少参加一次宗教集会，（b）每天至少进行一次私人宗教活动，如冥想。结果显示，大多数项目参与者报告称，在复原力领导力项目中学到的精神健康技能是有用的（88%）（Z = 3.000，p < 0.001）。此外，大多数项目参与者报告称，由于参加了同伴主导的复原力领导力项目，他们对精神探索的兴趣得到了肯定、恢复或提升（76%）（Z = 6.000，p = 0.015）。强调精神健康的文化适应性预防项目适用于退伍军人外展和福利项目。需要进行更详细的研究来评估课程细节。
