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Dimensions of Religiosity and PTSD Symptom Clusters in US Veterans and Active Duty Military

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Abstract

We examined multiple dimensions of religiosity and their relationship to the four DSM-5 PTSD symptom clusters among US Veterans and Active Duty Military (ADM), hypothesizing that religiosity would be most strongly inversely related to negative cognitions/emotions (Criterion D symptoms) and less strongly to neurobiologically based symptom clusters (B, C, and E). This cross-sectional multisite study involved 591 Veterans and ADM from across the southern USA. Inclusion criteria were having served in a combat theater and the presence of PTSD symptoms. Measures of religious beliefs/practices, social involvement, and PTSD symptoms were administered, and bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted in the overall sample, and in exploratory analyses, in the sample stratified by race (White, Black, and Hispanic). In the overall sample, multivariate analyses revealed that the only PTSD symptom cluster inversely related to religiosity was Criterion D, and only to organizational (b = − 0.08, P = 0.028) and cognitive/intrinsic religiosity (b = − 0.06, P = 0.049), relationships that were fully explained by social factors. Religious struggles, in contrast, were positively related to all four symptom clusters. Inverse relationships with Criterion D symptoms were particularly strong in Blacks, in whom inverse relationships were also present with Criterion E symptoms. In contrast, only positive relationships with PTSD symptom clusters were found in Hispanics, and no relationships (except for religious struggles) were present in Whites. As hypothesized, the inverse relationship between religious involvement and PTSD symptoms in Veterans and ADM was strongest (though modest) for Criterion D negative cognitions/emotions, especially in Blacks.

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Acknowledgements

A special thanks to Kerry Haynes, D.Min., BCC, at the South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, 4318 Woodcock Dr #120, San Antonio, TX 78229, who collected the data from that site. This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (Los Angeles, CA), Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center (Augusta, GA), South Texas Veterans Healthcare System (San Antonio, TX), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (Houston, TX), and Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System (Durham, NC).

Funding

This work was funded by a grant received from the Augusta Biomedical Research Institute (Nagy Youssef), Augusta, GA, and by departmental funds from the Department of Counselor Education and Family Studies, School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia, and from the Center for Aging & Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 508 Fulton St, Durham, NC, 27705, USA

    Harold G. Koenig

  2. Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, 201 Trent Drive, Box 3400, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Harold G. Koenig & Donna Ames

  3. Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    Harold G. Koenig

  4. Ningxia Medical University, 692 Shengli St, Xingqing Qu, Yinchuan Shi, 750000, Ningxia Huizuzizhiqu, China

    Harold G. Koenig

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, 1 Freedom Way, 30904, Augusta, GA, Georgia

    Nagy A. Youssef

  6. VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 11301 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90073, USA

    Donna Ames

  7. University of California - Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA

    Donna Ames

  8. Chaplain Services, Duke University Hospital, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Rev. John P. Oliver

  9. Department of Counselor Education and Family Studies, School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, USA

    Fred Volk

  10. Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Ellen J. Teng

  11. School of Sociology, University of Arizona, Social Sciences 400, PO Box 210027, Tucson, AZ, 85721-0027, USA

    Terrence D. Hill

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  1. Harold G. Koenig
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Correspondence to Harold G. Koenig.

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The authors of this article had no conflicts of interest.

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The research conducted here was approved by the Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and Research & Development Committees of the above VA Health Systems, Duke University Medical Center, and Liberty University.

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Koenig, H.G., Youssef, N.A., Ames, D. et al. Dimensions of Religiosity and PTSD Symptom Clusters in US Veterans and Active Duty Military. J Relig Health 58, 805–822 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00817-7

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