The Moderating Effect of Religious Involvement on the Relationship Between PTSD Symptoms and Physical Pain in U.S. Veterans and Active Duty Military

Abstract

The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity and pain is well known in veterans and active duty military (V/ADM). This study examines the buffering effect of religiosity on that relationship. A multisite study was conducted involving 585 V/ADM from across the United States. Multidimensional measures of religiosity, PTSD symptoms, depression/anxiety were administered, along with physical pain on a 0 to 10 visual analog scale. Bivariate and multivariate relationships were examined, along with the moderating effects of religiosity. PTSD symptoms were significantly related to pain level (r = 0.44), a relationship that was only slightly weaker among highly religious (r = 0.34) vs. nonhighly religious (r = 0.48). In multivariate analyses, the interaction between religiosity and PTSD severity on pain was not significant, although stratified analyses indicated a somewhat weaker relationship between PTSD severity and pain in the highly religious (B = 0.03, SE =0.01, t = 2.28, p = 0.02) compared to those who were not (B = 0.06, SE =0.01, t = 6.55, p < 0.0001). Likewise, effects of pain on PTSD symptoms appeared weaker in the highly religious (B = 0.67, SE =0.37, t = 1.80, p = 0.07) compared to others (B = 1.32, SE =0.25, t = 5.34, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: This study provides only minimal evidence that high religious involvement may buffer the effects of PTSD symptoms on pain and vice-versa.

Keywords:

• Physical pain
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• veterans
• active duty military
• religion
• spirituality

Acknowledgments

This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (Los Angeles, CA), Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center (Augusta, GA), South Texas Veterans Healthcare System (San Antonio, TX), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (Houston, TX), and Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System (Durham, NC). We would also like to acknowledge Kerry Haynes, DMin, BCC, who led the data collection at South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, San Antonio, Texas.

Conflict of interest

None

Disclaimer

The views expressed are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, the US Department of Defense, or the US Government.

Additional information

Funding

Nagy Youssef received grant support from the Augusta Biomedical Research Institute (ABRC), Augusta, GA; Department of Counselor Education and Family Studies, School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia; and Center for Aging & Development, Duke University Medical Center.