Association Between Self-Rated Positive Mental Health and Exposure to Potentially Morally Injurious Events in Deployed Canadian Forces Personnel

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mental health has traditionally been viewed as an absence of mental illness; however more recent conceptualizations have begun to incorporate an ability to function in society. Thus, an individual’s mental health can be placed on a dual-continuum where someone who functions well but has a mental illness, can be considered mentally healthy; while another individual who is free of mental illness could be considered as lacking mental health if they are not functioning well. Using the Mental Health Continuum – Short Form (MHC-SF), this study set out to determine the prevalence rates of positive mental health in a sample of recently deployed Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, and how these rates of positive mental health might be affected by exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIE). Results revealed that the positive mental health status of CAF members differed only slightly from those reported for the Canadian population as a whole. However, when CAF members’ positive mental health statuses were compared according to PMIE exposure, those who reported exposure were 37% less likely to be considered flourishing (ranging from 25% to 37% depending on PMIE question), and 138% more likely to be languishing (ranging from 71% to 229% depending on PMIE question) when compared to those who were not exposed. Results support the need for further research into the emotional, psychological, and behavioral ramifications of PMIE exposure in military personnel.