Moral context, coping strategies, and mental health outcomes among combat veterans.

IF 2.7 4区医学 Q2 PSYCHIATRY

International Journal of Social Psychiatry Pub Date : 2025-08-20 DOI:10.1177/00207640251360298

James Fm Cornwell, Elizabeth L Wetzler, Michael D Wood, Ryan G Erbe

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: Although research has been conducted on the influence of coping strategies on mental health, research has not investigated the relationships among moral context, the adoption of those strategies, and mental health outcomes.

Design: Studies were designed to measure the effects of moral context (specifically, moral injury and ethical leadership) on the adoption of adaptive or maladaptive coping strategies and their subsequent mental health consequences.

Method: Data was collected on 551 total military personnel, spanning two distinct survey administrations, who reported at least one combat deployment.

Results: Findings suggest that ethical leadership is associated with greater adaptive coping strategy adoption, while potentially morally injurious events (particularly self-transgression) are associated with greater maladaptive coping strategy adoption. Mediation analysis demonstrated that a significant portion of the effect of self-transgression on depression (95% CI [0.003, 0.038]) and anxiety (95% CI [0.004, 0.066]) is attributable to its attendant increase in maladaptive coping strategy adoption.

Conclusions: This research suggests that moral context can lead to differential adoption of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies. It also suggests that maladaptive coping strategies can account for a portion of the effect of self-transgression moral injury on depression and anxiety.

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退伍军人的道德背景、应对策略和心理健康结果。

目的：虽然已有研究探讨了应对策略对心理健康的影响，但尚未研究道德情境、应对策略的采用与心理健康结果之间的关系。设计：研究旨在衡量道德背景（特别是道德伤害和道德领导）对采用适应或不适应应对策略及其随后的心理健康后果的影响。方法：收集了551名军事人员的数据，这些人员来自两个不同的调查管理部门，他们报告了至少一次战斗部署。结果：研究结果表明，道德领导与更大的适应性应对策略的采用有关，而潜在的道德伤害事件（特别是自我违背）与更大的适应不良应对策略的采用有关。中介分析表明，自我过犯对抑郁（95% CI[0.003, 0.038]）和焦虑（95% CI[0.004, 0.066]）的显著影响可归因于随之而来的适应不良应对策略的采用。结论：本研究表明，道德情境会导致适应性和非适应性应对策略的不同采用。研究还表明，不适应的应对策略可以解释自我越轨道德伤害对抑郁和焦虑的部分影响。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Social Psychiatry PSYCHIATRY-

CiteScore

12.30

自引率

1.30%

发文量

120

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, established in 1954, is a leading publication dedicated to the field of social psychiatry. It serves as a platform for the exchange of research findings and discussions on the influence of social, environmental, and cultural factors on mental health and well-being. The journal is particularly relevant to psychiatrists and multidisciplinary professionals globally who are interested in understanding the broader context of psychiatric disorders and their impact on individuals and communities. Social psychiatry, as a discipline, focuses on the origins and outcomes of mental health issues within a social framework, recognizing the interplay between societal structures and individual mental health. The journal draws connections with related fields such as social anthropology, cultural psychiatry, and sociology, and is influenced by the latest developments in these areas. The journal also places a special emphasis on fast-track publication for brief communications, ensuring that timely and significant research can be disseminated quickly. Additionally, it strives to reflect its international readership by publishing state-of-the-art reviews from various regions around the world, showcasing the diverse practices and perspectives within the psychiatric disciplines. This approach not only contributes to the scientific understanding of social psychiatry but also supports the global exchange of knowledge and best practices in mental health care.