title: Religiosity as a Moderator of Self-Efficacy and Social Support in Predicting Traumatic Stress Among Combat Soldiers.
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.
authors.affiliation: 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. yaelcohen@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Israel-Cohen
authors.affiliation: School of Business Administration, College of Management Academic Studies, 7 Yitzhak Rabin Blvd., Rishon Lezion, 7502501, Israel.
authors.forename: Oren
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ashkelon Academic College, 12 Yitzhak Ben Zvi St., 78211, Ashkelon, Israel.
authors.forename: Smadar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noy
authors.affiliation: Department of Education, Ashkelon Academic College, 12 Yitzhak Ben Zvi St., 78211, Ashkelon, Israel.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kashy-Rosenbaum
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Combat soldiers; Israel; Self-efficacy; Social support; Traumatic stress
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