Assessing the link between Bible reading and flourishing among military families: Preliminary findings
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Bradshaw, M., Jang, S. J., & Johnson, B. R. (2023). Assessing the link between Bible reading and flourishing among military families: Preliminary findings. Armed Forces & Society. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095327X231211554
Abstract Created by REACH:
Hero Squad is a free children’s program designed to promote religiosity and flourishing (i.e., long-term well-being) among military-connected children and families through Bible reading. The program mails its materials to families; parents then guide program delivery through family devotionals and by encouraging their children to read the Bible. Parents reported on changes in religiosity and flourishing in their family (N=175 military families) during 3 months of Hero Squad participation. Before and after participation, parents also reported their children’s religiosity (i.e., reading the Bible, praying, and asking God for forgiveness) children’s flourishing (i.e., positive and negative affect and behavior), parents’ religiosity (i.e., reading the Bible, the impact and centrality of the Bible, and coping with military stressors), and the family unit’s religiosity (e.g., reading the Bible together) and family flourishing (e.g., listening to each other’s concerns, spending time together). Overall, parents reported increases in most aspects of religiosity and flourishing after participating in Hero Squad.
Focus:
Mental health
Other
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Veteran
Subject Affiliation:
Military families
Active duty service member
Veteran
Spouse of service member or veteran
Child of a service member or veteran
Population:
Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Authors:
Bradshaw, Matt, Jang, Sung Joon, Johnson, Byron R.
Abstract:
This study examines whether participating in a Bible reading program for military families (called “Hero Squad”) is positively related to overall human flourishing among children, family units, and parents/caregivers. Previous research shows salutary associations between multiple dimensions of religiosity (including reading sacred texts) and different aspects of flourishing (e.g., physical health, psychological well-being, character and virtue, social connections and support), so it was hypothesized that program participation would promote flourishing over time. Two waves of survey data were collected on a sample of 175 U.S. military families in 2021 and 2022, and differences between pretest and posttest surveys were analyzed. As hypothesized, improvements in indicators of flourishing were observed over time. These findings contribute to published work on religious participation by showing that Bible reading may promote overall mental, physical, and social well-being. Implications and limitations of these preliminary findings are discussed.
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Keywords:
bible reading, military families, Hero Squad
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
REACH Newsletter: