Faith of Our Sister Soldiers: National Guard Women Share Stories of Their Faith During and After Deployment.

Journal: Journal Of Religion And Health
Published:
Abstract

In this qualitative study, we explored the religious and spiritual beliefs of women in the National Guard, the role of religion in their lives, and the effect of deployment and reintegration on women's belief systems. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 39 women service members who had been deployed. Results of the content analysis revealed five themes: (1) Religious Identity/Belief in God, (2) Religion/Spirituality has a Positive Impact, (3) Religious Activities, (4) Religiosity and Deployment, and (5) Religiosity/Spiritual Experiences Change over Time. Implications for future research and the incorporation of faith-based practices with women service members who may seek mental health treatment are discussed.

Authors
Laverne Berkel, Johanna Nilsson, Patricia Kelly, William Anderson, Alyssa Joiner, Christopher Davids, Christine Serpe