Journal of Behavioral Health and Psychology. 2023;
12(1):(323-363)
Deployment Expereinces and Psychological Determinants of Moral Injury in Nigerian Military Veterans
Fredrick Sonter ANONGO, James Abel, Babatola Dominic OLAWA, Mkpelanga DOOIOR, Binan Evans DAMI, Tersoo SHAAPERA
Abstract
Although there is research consensus that military deployment increases exposure to
morally injurious events, little is known about factors that predict moral injury (MI) in
veterans, especially in Nigeria. This study examined deployment experiences (combat
experiences, number of deployments, duration of deployments) and psychological factors
(attribution, early childhood experiences) as determinants of moral injury in Nigerian
military veterans. The research was a cross-sectional survey that purposively sampled
148 veterans in three randomly selected military barracks across North-East, Nigeria. To
ascertain whether military deployment experiences and psychological factors predict MI
in veterans, a series of hierarchical multiple regression were carried out at .01 and .05
level. Findings indicated that, when the demographic and military characteristics were
considered, only age (β = -.19, SE = .16, p =.05) and marital status (β = .250, SE = 3.19, p
<.01) made significant independent contribution to MI. Also, combat exposure significantly
predicted MI in model 2. (β = .296, SE = .23, p< .05). When five early childhood experiences
were considered, only physical abuse (β = .60, SE = .53, p <.001) and emotional abuse (β =
-.30, SE = .35, p <.01) emerged as significant predictors of MI. These results illustrates the
significant influence of early traumatic events, including experiencing physical and emotional
abuse and subsequent combat experiences with MI in Nigerian military veterans. The findings
underscore the need for policies that mitigate early traumatic experiences as well as predeployment
psychological training to prepare military veterans against developing moral injury.
