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Using Mindfulness to Manage Moral Injury in Veterans: Feasibility, Satisfaction, and Initial Evidence of a Live Web-based Randomized Controlled Trial
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  • Michelle Kelley,
  • Adrian J. Bravo,
  • Elizabeth E. Burgin,
  • Susan Gaylord,
  • Christine Vinci,
  • Megan Strowger,
  • Jeff M. Gabelmann,
  • Joseph Currier
Michelle Kelley
Old Dominion University

Corresponding Author:mkelley@odu.edu

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Adrian J. Bravo
William & Mary
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Elizabeth E. Burgin
William & Mary
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Susan Gaylord
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
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Christine Vinci
Moffitt Cancer Center
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Megan Strowger
Old Dominion University
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Jeff M. Gabelmann
Old Dominion University
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Joseph Currier
University of South Alabama
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Abstract

Objective: The present study assessed initial evidence of program feasibility, satisfaction, and pre-to post-intervention changes in moral injury symptoms among recent-era veterans who participated in Mindfulness to Manage Moral Injury (MMMI), a live facilitated web-based 7-week mindfulness-based program targeting moral injury among veterans. Method: Of 56 recent-era veterans who met study criteria and were randomized, 40 (71.4%) completed the pre- and post-intervention survey and attended at least one treatment session. Of these 40, 21 completed MMMI and 19 completed an equally intensive educational support (ES) control intervention. Among the analytic sample ( n = 40), most participants identified as White (77.5%), were men (62.5%), and reported a service-connected disability (82.5%). Results: Participants attended on average 6.11 sessions. Program satisfaction was moderately high across both conditions. Several significant condition x time interactions were found, with those in the MMMI condition reporting greater pre- to post-intervention decreases in moral injury (η2=.121), impaired functioning due to moral injury (η2=.129), shame-related experiences due to moral injury (η2=.105), and other-directed moral injury (e.g., betrayal, difficulty forgiving others; η2=.129) as compared to the ES condition. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest MMMI appears feasible and acceptable and may be able to reach veterans who may not seek traditional Veterans Affairs Medical Center care or who prefer a web-based program. Given its promise for the treatment of moral injury among veterans, MMMI warrants additional large-scale clinical-trial testing.
05 Feb 2024Submitted to Journal of Clinical Psychology
06 Feb 2024Submission Checks Completed
06 Feb 2024Assigned to Editor
16 Feb 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
16 Feb 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 May 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
26 Jul 20241st Revision Received
29 Jul 2024Submission Checks Completed
29 Jul 2024Assigned to Editor
29 Jul 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending