title: Measuring Moral Injury: Psychometric Properties of the Moral Injury Events Scale in Two Military Samples.
abstract: As the construct of moral injury has gained increased conceptual and empirical attention among military personnel and veterans, preliminary attempts to operationalize and measure the construct have emerged. One such measure is the Moral Injury Event Scale (MIES). The aim of the current study was to further evaluate the MIES's psychometric properties in two military samples: a clinical sample of Air Force personnel and a nonclinical sample of Army National Guard personnel. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses across both samples supported a three-factor solution: transgressions by others, transgressions by self, and betrayal. Transgressions-Others was most strongly associated with posttraumatic stress; Transgressions-Self was most strongly associated with hopelessness, pessimism, and anger; and Betrayal was most strongly associated with posttraumatic stress and anger. Results support the construct validity of the MIES, although areas for improvement are indicated and discussed.
authors.affiliation: The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA National Center for Veterans Studies, UT, USA craig.bryan@utah.edu.
authors.forename: Craig J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.affiliation: The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA National Center for Veterans Studies, UT, USA.
authors.forename: AnnaBelle O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Anestis
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Joye C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Anestis
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Neysa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Etienne
authors.affiliation: Hurlburt Field, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Chad E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Morrow
authors.affiliation: The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA National Center for Veterans Studies, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Bobbie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ray-Sannerud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004532:Ego; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008890:Military Psychiatry; D009014:Morals; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: factor analysis; military; moral injury; psychometrics