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The relationship of religiosity to level of psychopathology in Vietnam veterans
Abstract
This research project was undertaken because there is a need for empirical research on Vietnam veterans and religiosity. The study attempted to determine if there is a positive correlation between Vietnam veterans' religiosity (involvement in religious activities, religious affiliation, and attending church is meaningful) and psychological health as measured by the MMPI. The study also investigated the relationship between Vietnam veterans' religious beliefs, as measured by the MMPI Religious Fundamentalism content scale (REL). In addition, the study attempted to determine whether Vietnam combat veterans show greater frequency of characteristics associated with PTSD on the MMPI than combat support veterans and Vietnam era veterans (who did not serve in Vietnam). Finally, this study attempted to further validate the usefulness of the MMPI and MMPI PTSD subscale in research with Vietnam veterans. This retrospective study consisted of 336 volunteer subjects. The results of this study indicated that veterans with higher religiosity scores record less psychopathology on the MMPI. The study further showed that the 2 (Depression) scale was the only MMPI scale significantly negatively related to the MMPI REL. A high score on the REL is thought to reflect a respondent's expressed religious belief and practices. The results of this study indicate that the veterans in this sample were more religious as youth than at present. Overall, religious veterans appear to have lesser degrees of symptoms associated with PTSD. These results suggest that religiosity has a meaningful influence on the psychological well-being of veterans. This study demonstrated that combat veterans have higher overall MMPI mean scores than combat service support and Vietnam era veterans. This study failed to cross-validate the MMPI PTSD scale. The results suggest that combat veterans, particularly those with PTSD, have higher degrees of psychopathology than service support or Vietnam-era veterans. Further research is recommended on religiosity and the Vietnam veteran.* *Originally published in DAI Vol. 53, No. 6. Reprinted here with corrected author name.
Subject Area
Academic guidance counseling|Psychotherapy
Recommended Citation
Hinkston, Khaleel E, "The relationship of religiosity to level of psychopathology in Vietnam veterans" (1991). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9219380.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9219380