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Factors Influencing Military Personnel Utilizing Chaplains: A Literature Scoping Review

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Abstract

Chaplains have been embedded in military settings for over a millennium. In recent years however, the decline in spiritual/religious (S/R) affiliation of military personnel across Western cultures has led to some commentators questioning the utilization of religious chaplains by defence personnel. This scoping review maps the literature on S/R and non-S/R factors that influence utilizing military chaplains—with a particular emphasis on the Australian military context. A systematic scoping review of tertiary literature databases using Arksey and O’Malley (2003) and Joanna Briggs Institute methodologies (JBI, 2021), revealed a total of 33 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Results fell into three broad categories: (i) how personal religious views influence utilization of military chaplaincy, (ii) barriers and enablers to personnel utilizing military chaplains, and (iii) the impact of chaplaincy. Despite the current reduction in religiosity in Western society, findings from this scoping review suggest there is little evidence that low religiosity among military personnel forms a significant barrier to utilizing chaplaincy services. To the contrary, the literature revealed that chaplains provide trusted, confidential, and holistic support for military personnel that if diminished or compromised would leave a substantial gap in staff well-being services.

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Notes

  1. Religiosity: The actual practice or expression of one’s religious beliefs with respect to (i) objectifying a deity, (ii) the utilization of sacred texts, (iii) enactment of religious rituals, and (iv) committed engagement with a religious organization and/or community. (Definition based on Mol, H. (1976). Identity and the sacred: A sketch for a new social-scientific theory of religion. Basil Blackwell).

  2. Changing Global Religious Landscape (2015–2060): At the current rates of increase/decrease in global religious affiliation, it is projected that Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, various Folk Religions will remain stable or continue to slightly increase numerically and, correspondingly, as a percentage of world population. However, Buddhism and other minority spiritual groups are projected to decline (see Table 2).

  3. Spirituality: The ADF definition is a modified version of the consensus definition of spirituality (Puchalski et al., 2009, p. 877).

  4. Liberation theology developed in the 1960’s across Latin American countries which prioritizes changing unjust systems for the benefit of the poor and suffering (Vegel, Z. (2018). Liberation theology. Kairos, 12(1), 81–91. https://doi.org/10.32862/k.12.1.5.

  5. “No Religion”: those of no religion are sometimes called “nones”.

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Acknowledgements

Appreciation is expressed to Principal Chaplain (AIRCDRE) Mark Willis (RAAF), Principal Chaplain Andrew Lewis (RAN), Chaplain (COL.) Sarah Gibson (ARA), Senior Chaplain Daniel Hynes (RAN), Colonel Mark Francis (RFD), and Chaplain (SQNLDR) Timothy Hodgson (RAAF). Acknowledgment is also given to Bishop Grant Dibden (Anglican Bishop to the ADF), (LTCOL) Revd. Dr. Carl Aiken (Rtd: Emeritus Chaplain Royal Womens’ and Childrens’ Hospital Adelaide, Australia), Revd. David Drummond (Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia) and Associate Professor Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen (University of Notre Dame, Sydney Australia) who was the approving Associate Editor for this submission, as well as Professor Harold Koenig (Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, US).

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Correspondence to Mark D. Layson.

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Conflict of interest

ML, KTL and LC currently serve as chaplains. Support for the conduct of this review was provided by the Defence Force Anglican Chaplaincy Incorporated.

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This research did not require the use of humans or other animal subjects and therefore was not subject to research ethics approval.

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Layson, M.D., Tunks Leach, K., Carey, L.B. et al. Factors Influencing Military Personnel Utilizing Chaplains: A Literature Scoping Review. J Relig Health 61, 1155–1182 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01477-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01477-2

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