title: Bearing the burden: deployment stress among army national guard chaplains.
abstract: Military Chaplains are a critical component of behavioral health and spiritual support in combat operations. Support of combat operations has taken a toll on these caregivers. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of deployment on the psychosocial and health characteristics and reintegration of Army National Guard (ARNG) chaplains. Seventy-four ARNG chaplains participated in an anonymous, online survey. Results were categorized into two mutually exclusive groups, combat deployed and non-combat deployed. Although both groups tended to present similar results, Combat deployed group chaplains were significantly more likely to be of higher rank, have served in a pastoral role in the ARNG longer, and present with higher scores for combat exposure, resilience, and alcohol use. Further, five and seven participants, respectively, the majority of whom were from the combat deployed group, endorsed "frequently" or "a great deal" to negative religious coping. These endorsements of abandonment may relate back to Reserve component specific deployment concerns.
authors.affiliation: HSR&D/RR&D Center of Excellence, Maximizing Rehabilitation Outcomes, James A Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa , Florida 33612, USA. karen.besterman-dahan@va.gov
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Besterman-Dahan
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hickling
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Elnitsky
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skvoretz
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Antinori
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002977:Clergy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014857:Warfare