Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Department of Psychology, Humanistic Science Faculty, Islamic Azad University, Hamadan Branch, Hamadan, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: The present study aims to provide a model for explaining the mental health of
war veterans based on the variables of spiritual well-being, social support, and self-efficacy,
with the mediating role of life satisfaction. Materials and Methods: The research method was
descriptive a correlational. The study samples included 210 veterans, who had records in the
Veterans Foundation in Tehran’s number one district, Sarallah and Imam Khomeini shelters
and Essaar Sports Center in Tehran. They were selected randomly and were asked to respond
to questionnaires on mental health, spiritual well-being, life satisfaction, social support, and
self-efficacy. The data was analyzed by LISREL software version 8.5, using the path analysis.
Results: The results showed that the designed model fitted the data (AGFI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.00
and NFI = 1.00). In the fitted model, life satisfaction and spiritual well-being directly, and social
support indirectly, had a significant relationship with the mediator variable of life satisfaction
of the war veterans’ mental health. Conclusions: Veterans with better social support, life
satisfaction, and spiritual well-being have better mental health.
Keywords
1. Saraphino A. Health psychology. USA: Wiley Press; 2005.
2. Keyes CL. Complete mental health: An agent for 21st century. In
Flourishing: Positive psychology and life well‑lived. Washangton,
DC: American Psychology Association Press; 2003.
3. Joshanloo M, Rostami R, Nosratabadi M. Examining the factor
structure of the Keyes’ comprehensive scale of well‑being. Journal
of Iranian Psychologists 2006; 3 (9): 38‑6.
4. Keyes CLM, Lopez S. Toward a science of mental health: Positive
direction diagnosis and interventions. In: The Handbook of Positive
Psychology. Snyder CR, Lopez S, editors. NewYork: Oxford
University Press; 2002.
5. Keyes CLM, Shapiro A. Social well‑being in the united state:
A descriptive epidemiology. How healthy are we? A national study
of well‑being at midlife. In: Orville GB, Ryff C, Kessler R, editors.
Chicago, United States: University of Chicago Press; 2004.
6. Keyes CL. The mental health continuum: From languishing to
flourishing in life. J Health and Soc Research 2002;43:207‑22.
7. Ambler VM. Who flourishes in college? Using positive psychology
and student involvement theory to explore mental health among
traditionally aged under graduates. Partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the degree doctor of philosophy dissertation.
Virginia: College of William and Mary; 2006.
8. Seligman, Martin EP. Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (2000). Positive
Psychology: An Introduction. American Psychologist 55:5-14.
9. Hawks SR, Hull M, Thalman RL, Richins PM. Review of spiritual
health: Definition, role, and intervention strategies in health
promotion. Am J Health Promot 1995;9:371‑8.
10. Ellison CW, Jonker‑Bakker I. Spiritual well‑being: Conceptualization
and measurement. Psychol Theol. 1983;11:330‑40.
11. Bassett RL, Camplin W, Humphrey D, Dorr C, Biggs S, Distaffen R,
et al. Measuring Christian maturity: A comparison of several scales.
J Psychol Theol 1991;19:84‑93.
12. Genia V. Evaluation of spiritual well‑being scale in sample of college
student. Int J Psychol Religion 2001;11:25‑30.
13. Beigi A, Ahmadi‑Tahour M, Mohammadi F, Mohammad A, Najafi M.
The role of spirituality and social support on the mental health of
veterans. Mil Psychol Mag 2012;11:11‑20.
14. Pavot W, Diener E. The affective and congnitive context of
self‑reported measure of subjective well‑ being. Soc Indic Res
1993;28:1‑20.
15. Myers DG, Diener E.Who is happy? Psychol Sci 1995;6:10‑9.
16. Maltaby J, Day L, Mccutcheon LE, Gillett R, Houran J, Ashe DD.
Personality and coping: Acontext for examining celebrity worship
and mental health. Br J Psychol 2004;95:411‑28.
17. Ghazanfari F. Hapiness and its relationship to perceived social
support and self‑esteem. Iranian Third National Seminar of
college Students mental health, Ministry of Science, Research and
Technology, Elm‑o‑Sanat University, Tehran 2006.
18. Wang LV, Chang PC, Shin FJ, Sun CC, Jeng C. Self‑care behavior,
hope, and social support in Taiwanese patients awaiting heart
transplantation. J Psychosom Res 2006;68:485‑91.
19. Havaaei A. Effects of life skills training on self‑efficacy beliefs and
stress of junior high school students in Nishapur city at 2007 to
2008 academic year. Unpublished MA thesis in Psychology Tehran:
Tehran University of Tarbiat‑e‑Mollem, 2009.
20. Reeve JM. Understanding Motivation and Emotion. In: Translated
bySayed‑Mohammadi Y. Tehran: Virayesh Publication; 2005.
21. Noorbaalaa AA, Bagheri Yazdi SA, Kazem M. The validation of
general health questionnaire‑28 as a psychiatric screening tool in
Tehran. Hakim 2008;11:47‑53.
22. Paloutzian RF, Ellison CW. Loneliness: A sourcebook of current
theory, research and therapy. New York: Wiley Press, 1982.
23. Dehshiri G, Sohrabi F, Jafari E, Najafi M. Hoya psychometric
characteristics of spiritual well‑being scale, students study. Psychol
Q 2008;4:150‑29.
24. Zimet GD, Dahlem NW, Zimet SG and Farley G K. The
Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Journal of
Personality Assessment 1988; 52:30‑41.
25. Sherer M, Maddux JE, Mercandante B, Prentice-Dunn S, Jacobs
B and Rogers RW. The Self‑Efficacy Scale: Construction and
validation. Psychological Reports 1982;51:663‑71.
26. Chen G, Gully SM and Eden D. Validation of a New General
Self‑Efficacy Scale. Organizational Research Methods 2001;4:62‑8.
27. Diener E, Emmons RA, Larsen RJ, Griffin S. The satisfaction with
life scale. J Pers Assess 1985;49:71‑5.
28. Homan HA. Structural equation modeling using LISREL software.
Tehran’s side:2006.
29. Pavot W, Dienner E, Suh E. The temporal satisfaction with life scale.
J Pers Assess 1998;70:340‑54.
30. Lucas RE, Dienner E, Suh E. Discriminant validity of well‑ being
measures. J Pers Soc Psychol 1996;71:616‑28.
31. Koiumaa‑Honkanen H, Honkanen R, Viinamaki H, Heikkila K,
Kaprio J, koskenvuo M. Life satisfaction and suicide: A 20 Year
follow-up study. Am J Psychiatry 2001;158:433‑9.
32. Adler MG, Fagley NS. Appreciation: Individual differences in finding
value and meaning as a unique predictor of subjective well‑being.
J Pers 2005;73:79‑114.
33. Nilsson SL. Psychological and existential issues and quality of life in
people living with HIV infection. AIDS Care, living with HIV infection.
AIDS Care 2002;14:399‑404.
34. Wentis WL. The relationship between religion and mental health.
J Soc Issues 1995;15:33‑48.
35. Koeing, HG, Mc Cullough ME, Larson DB. Handbook of religion and
health, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press;2001.
36. Kim YS. Spirituality moderates the effect of stress on emotional
and physical Adjustment. Pers Individ Dif 2000;32:1377‑90.
37. Bahrami Ehsan H, Tashk N. Dimensions of religious orientation and
religious orientation and mental health assessment scale. Tehran
University Journal of Psychology and Educational Sciences 2005;
4:63‑41.
38. Hartz GW. Spirituality and mental health: Clinical Application.
New York: Haworth Press;2005.
39. Bovier PA, Chamot E, Perneger TV. Perceived stress, internal
resources, and social support as determinants mental health among
young adults. Qual Life Res 2004;13:161‑70.
40. Berkman LF. The role of social relations in health promotion.
Psychosom Med 1995;57:245‑54.
41. Bakhshipoor A. Relationship between life satisfaction, problemsolving style and religious attitudes to mental health. Tabriz
University Journal of Psychology 2008;3;26-8
42. Helliwell JF. How’s life? Combining individual and national variables
to explain subjective well‑being. Econ Modeling 2003; 20:331‑60.
43. Hayo B. Happiness in Eastern Europe. Mimeo. Marburg, Germany:
Philipps University Marburg; 2004. p. 12.
2. Keyes CL. Complete mental health: An agent for 21st century. In
Flourishing: Positive psychology and life well‑lived. Washangton,
DC: American Psychology Association Press; 2003.
3. Joshanloo M, Rostami R, Nosratabadi M. Examining the factor
structure of the Keyes’ comprehensive scale of well‑being. Journal
of Iranian Psychologists 2006; 3 (9): 38‑6.
4. Keyes CLM, Lopez S. Toward a science of mental health: Positive
direction diagnosis and interventions. In: The Handbook of Positive
Psychology. Snyder CR, Lopez S, editors. NewYork: Oxford
University Press; 2002.
5. Keyes CLM, Shapiro A. Social well‑being in the united state:
A descriptive epidemiology. How healthy are we? A national study
of well‑being at midlife. In: Orville GB, Ryff C, Kessler R, editors.
Chicago, United States: University of Chicago Press; 2004.
6. Keyes CL. The mental health continuum: From languishing to
flourishing in life. J Health and Soc Research 2002;43:207‑22.
7. Ambler VM. Who flourishes in college? Using positive psychology
and student involvement theory to explore mental health among
traditionally aged under graduates. Partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the degree doctor of philosophy dissertation.
Virginia: College of William and Mary; 2006.
8. Seligman, Martin EP. Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (2000). Positive
Psychology: An Introduction. American Psychologist 55:5-14.
9. Hawks SR, Hull M, Thalman RL, Richins PM. Review of spiritual
health: Definition, role, and intervention strategies in health
promotion. Am J Health Promot 1995;9:371‑8.
10. Ellison CW, Jonker‑Bakker I. Spiritual well‑being: Conceptualization
and measurement. Psychol Theol. 1983;11:330‑40.
11. Bassett RL, Camplin W, Humphrey D, Dorr C, Biggs S, Distaffen R,
et al. Measuring Christian maturity: A comparison of several scales.
J Psychol Theol 1991;19:84‑93.
12. Genia V. Evaluation of spiritual well‑being scale in sample of college
student. Int J Psychol Religion 2001;11:25‑30.
13. Beigi A, Ahmadi‑Tahour M, Mohammadi F, Mohammad A, Najafi M.
The role of spirituality and social support on the mental health of
veterans. Mil Psychol Mag 2012;11:11‑20.
14. Pavot W, Diener E. The affective and congnitive context of
self‑reported measure of subjective well‑ being. Soc Indic Res
1993;28:1‑20.
15. Myers DG, Diener E.Who is happy? Psychol Sci 1995;6:10‑9.
16. Maltaby J, Day L, Mccutcheon LE, Gillett R, Houran J, Ashe DD.
Personality and coping: Acontext for examining celebrity worship
and mental health. Br J Psychol 2004;95:411‑28.
17. Ghazanfari F. Hapiness and its relationship to perceived social
support and self‑esteem. Iranian Third National Seminar of
college Students mental health, Ministry of Science, Research and
Technology, Elm‑o‑Sanat University, Tehran 2006.
18. Wang LV, Chang PC, Shin FJ, Sun CC, Jeng C. Self‑care behavior,
hope, and social support in Taiwanese patients awaiting heart
transplantation. J Psychosom Res 2006;68:485‑91.
19. Havaaei A. Effects of life skills training on self‑efficacy beliefs and
stress of junior high school students in Nishapur city at 2007 to
2008 academic year. Unpublished MA thesis in Psychology Tehran:
Tehran University of Tarbiat‑e‑Mollem, 2009.
20. Reeve JM. Understanding Motivation and Emotion. In: Translated
bySayed‑Mohammadi Y. Tehran: Virayesh Publication; 2005.
21. Noorbaalaa AA, Bagheri Yazdi SA, Kazem M. The validation of
general health questionnaire‑28 as a psychiatric screening tool in
Tehran. Hakim 2008;11:47‑53.
22. Paloutzian RF, Ellison CW. Loneliness: A sourcebook of current
theory, research and therapy. New York: Wiley Press, 1982.
23. Dehshiri G, Sohrabi F, Jafari E, Najafi M. Hoya psychometric
characteristics of spiritual well‑being scale, students study. Psychol
Q 2008;4:150‑29.
24. Zimet GD, Dahlem NW, Zimet SG and Farley G K. The
Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Journal of
Personality Assessment 1988; 52:30‑41.
25. Sherer M, Maddux JE, Mercandante B, Prentice-Dunn S, Jacobs
B and Rogers RW. The Self‑Efficacy Scale: Construction and
validation. Psychological Reports 1982;51:663‑71.
26. Chen G, Gully SM and Eden D. Validation of a New General
Self‑Efficacy Scale. Organizational Research Methods 2001;4:62‑8.
27. Diener E, Emmons RA, Larsen RJ, Griffin S. The satisfaction with
life scale. J Pers Assess 1985;49:71‑5.
28. Homan HA. Structural equation modeling using LISREL software.
Tehran’s side:2006.
29. Pavot W, Dienner E, Suh E. The temporal satisfaction with life scale.
J Pers Assess 1998;70:340‑54.
30. Lucas RE, Dienner E, Suh E. Discriminant validity of well‑ being
measures. J Pers Soc Psychol 1996;71:616‑28.
31. Koiumaa‑Honkanen H, Honkanen R, Viinamaki H, Heikkila K,
Kaprio J, koskenvuo M. Life satisfaction and suicide: A 20 Year
follow-up study. Am J Psychiatry 2001;158:433‑9.
32. Adler MG, Fagley NS. Appreciation: Individual differences in finding
value and meaning as a unique predictor of subjective well‑being.
J Pers 2005;73:79‑114.
33. Nilsson SL. Psychological and existential issues and quality of life in
people living with HIV infection. AIDS Care, living with HIV infection.
AIDS Care 2002;14:399‑404.
34. Wentis WL. The relationship between religion and mental health.
J Soc Issues 1995;15:33‑48.
35. Koeing, HG, Mc Cullough ME, Larson DB. Handbook of religion and
health, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press;2001.
36. Kim YS. Spirituality moderates the effect of stress on emotional
and physical Adjustment. Pers Individ Dif 2000;32:1377‑90.
37. Bahrami Ehsan H, Tashk N. Dimensions of religious orientation and
religious orientation and mental health assessment scale. Tehran
University Journal of Psychology and Educational Sciences 2005;
4:63‑41.
38. Hartz GW. Spirituality and mental health: Clinical Application.
New York: Haworth Press;2005.
39. Bovier PA, Chamot E, Perneger TV. Perceived stress, internal
resources, and social support as determinants mental health among
young adults. Qual Life Res 2004;13:161‑70.
40. Berkman LF. The role of social relations in health promotion.
Psychosom Med 1995;57:245‑54.
41. Bakhshipoor A. Relationship between life satisfaction, problemsolving style and religious attitudes to mental health. Tabriz
University Journal of Psychology 2008;3;26-8
42. Helliwell JF. How’s life? Combining individual and national variables
to explain subjective well‑being. Econ Modeling 2003; 20:331‑60.
43. Hayo B. Happiness in Eastern Europe. Mimeo. Marburg, Germany:
Philipps University Marburg; 2004. p. 12.
)