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Religiosity as a Moderator of Self-Efficacy and Social Support in Predicting Traumatic Stress Among Combat Soldiers

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Abstract

Based on a sample of 54 Israeli soldiers (51 % non-religious, 49 % religious) surveyed upon their return from combat, this study investigates the moderating role of religiosity as a factor that may strengthen cognitive processing tied to the belief in oneself to persevere (i.e., self-efficacy) after trauma and/or as a factor tied to enhanced external social support that religious individuals in particular may benefit from by their involvement in a religious community. Findings revealed (1) social support was tied to greater resilience within the general sample; (2) religious soldiers were less susceptible to traumatic stress than non-religious soldiers; and (3) religiosity moderated the relationship between self-efficacy and traumatic stress but not the relationship between social support and traumatic stress. Implications of findings are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crown Family Center for Israel and Jewish Studies, and Sociology, Religion, and Gender Studies, Northwestern University, 1860 Campus Drive, Crowe Hall 4-131, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA

    Yael Israel-Cohen

  2. School of Business Administration, College of Management Academic Studies, 7 Yitzhak Rabin Blvd., Rishon Lezion, 7502501, Israel

    Oren Kaplan

  3. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ashkelon Academic College, 12 Yitzhak Ben Zvi St., 78211, Ashkelon, Israel

    Smadar Noy

  4. Department of Education, Ashkelon Academic College, 12 Yitzhak Ben Zvi St., 78211, Ashkelon, Israel

    Gabriela Kashy-Rosenbaum

Authors
  1. Yael Israel-Cohen
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  2. Oren Kaplan
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  3. Smadar Noy
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  4. Gabriela Kashy-Rosenbaum
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Correspondence to Yael Israel-Cohen.

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Israel-Cohen, Y., Kaplan, O., Noy, S. et al. Religiosity as a Moderator of Self-Efficacy and Social Support in Predicting Traumatic Stress Among Combat Soldiers. J Relig Health 55, 1160–1171 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0187-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0187-x

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