Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2018

DOI

10.1037/trm0000158

Publication Title

Traumatology

Volume

24

Issue

4

Pages

301-312

Abstract

Moral injury (MI) results from perpetration of or exposure to distressing events, known as morally injurious events (MIEs), that challenge moral beliefs and values. Due to the type of involvement in recent military conflicts, many veterans report MIEs that may cause dissonance and, in turn, MI. Although 2 existing measures assess MIEs, neither currently assesses the defining characteristics of MI (i.e., guilt, shame, difficulty forgiving self and others, and withdrawal). The present study reports the initial psychometric test of a modified version (Robbins, Kelley, Hamrick, Bravo, & White, 2017) of the Moral Injury Questionnaire—Military version (MIQ-M; Currier, Holland, Drescher, & Foy, 2015) in a sample of 328 military personnel (e.g., veterans, National Guard/reservists, and active-duty members). The MIQ-M was modified to assess both MIEs and the defining characteristics of MI. Exploratory factor analyses suggested a 3-factor model of MIEs consisting of Atrocities of War, Psychological Consequences of War, and Leadership Failure or Betrayal. The modified MIQ-M factors were correlated with defining characteristics of MI. In addition, each MIE factor and associated defining characteristics of MI were positively correlated with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety, as well as substance use. The modified MIQ-M is a reliable measure of MI that comprises 3 subscales that are associated with, but distinct from, mental health outcomes. Although findings are promising, further research evaluating the applicability of the modified MIQ-M in clinical settings is required to establish construct validity of the defining characteristics and secondary manifestations of MI.

Rights

© American Psychological Association, 2018. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. The final article is available, upon publication, at: https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000158

Included in accordance with publisher policy.

Original Publication Citation

Braitman, A. L., Battles, A. R., Kelley, M. L., Hamrick, H. C., Cramer, R. J., Ehlke, S., & Bravo, A. J. (2018). Psychometric properties of a Modified Moral Injury Questionnaire in a military population. Traumatology, 24(4), 301-312. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000158

ORCID

0000-0003-2259-1094 (Braitman), 0000-0003-3643-0419 (Kelley), 0000-0001-7288-2418 (Ehlke)

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