Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

4969

Date

2017

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Psychology

Concentration

Clinical Psychology

Committee Chair

Robert A. Neimeyer

Committee Member

Kristoffer S. Berlin

Committee Member

Frank Andrasik

Committee Member

Katherine D. Veazey Morris

Abstract

Theoretical support for the moral injury construct is mounting, yet empirical support has lagged behind. A conceptual model has been proposed, but studies have not yet explored the constellation of symptoms within treatment-seeking Veterans. Veterans (N = 212) seeking trauma recovery services completed measures of potential moral injury symptoms that functioned as indicators in latent profile analyses. Differences in exposure to potentially morally injurious experiences were compared across profiles. Three profiles emerged that varied by symptom severity, levels of trauma-related guilt, and levels of dispositional forgiveness. Exposure to potentially morally injurious experiences predicted membership in a class consistent with proposed moral injury symptomatology. Person-centered approaches are useful for identifying a distinct group of Veterans whose trauma recovery may benefit from specifically targeting moral emotions, consistent with the emerging construct of moral injury.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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