We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Spiritual Fitness, Spiritual Readiness, and Depressive Symptoms in Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadets.
- Authors
Willison, Megan L.; Fraley, Amy L.; Oglesby, Leslie W.; Wright, Cynthia J.; Winkelmann, Zachary K.
- Abstract
Over the past decade, the United States military has taken an interest in addressing soldiers' spiritual fitness and readiness to help improve their mental health and resiliency. Similar efforts have not been applied within the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) population despite the mental health challenges these college students experience. To examine spiritual readiness, spiritual fitness, and depressive symptoms in ROTC cadets. Cross-sectional study. Web-based survey. We recruited ROTC cadets from 1 large southeastern university (n = 91 of 315, 28.9% response rate). The ROTC cadets (age = 21 ± 3 years; men = 68, 74.7%; women = 22, 24.2%; missing = 1, 1.1%) were mainly classified as juniors (n = 30, 33.0%) and in Army ROTC (ROTC branch: Army = 69, Air Force = 20, Navy = 2). The survey contained 3 validated instruments used to assess spiritual fitness (the Spiritual Fitness Inventory [SFI]), spiritual readiness (Spiritual Wellbeing Scale [SWBS]), and mental health via depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]). Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests to compare belief in God or gods with the dependent measures. A Pearson correlation was calculated to assess the relationship between the SWBS score and PHQ-9 data. In total, 85.7% (n = 78/91) of ROTC cadets stated that they believed in God or gods. Overall, the cadets were considered to have average spiritual fitness (mean = 75.04 ± 14.89) and moderate spiritual well-being (mean = 90.46 ± 18.09). The average PHQ-9 score was 4.22 ± 5.25. Individuals who believed in God or gods had higher spiritual readiness (believer = 94.44 ± 16.10, nonbeliever = 67.00 ± 9.35; P ≤.01). No statistically significant differences were noted for symptoms of depression (believer = 3.38 ± 4.90, nonbeliever = 6.60 ± 6.90; P =.143) or spiritual fitness (believer = 76.12 ± 14.78, nonbeliever = 64.40 ± 12.68; P =.054) in ROTC cadets based on belief status. Overall, the ROTC cadets had moderate to average spiritual fitness and readiness, with typical depressive symptoms scores. Spiritual readiness was different for those who believed in God or gods, and existential well-being was significantly correlated with depressive symptoms.
- Subjects
COMPETENCY assessment (Law); CROSS-sectional method; PEARSON correlation (Statistics); MEDICAL care; PSYCHOLOGY of military personnel; INTERNET; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; MANN Whitney U Test; SURVEYS; SPIRITUALITY; RELIGION; DATA analysis software; MILITARY education; MENTAL depression
- Publication
Journal of Athletic Training (Allen Press), 2024, Vol 59, Issue 4, p419
- ISSN
1062-6050
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.4085/1062-6050-0323.23