Date

8-29-2025

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Robyn Brown

Keywords

spirituality, third culture kids, missionary kids, post-traumatic stress disorder

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

In recent years, studies have documented the importance of spirituality in assuaging psychological distress. Numerous studies have investigated the connection between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and spirituality and its positive outcomes among diverse populations. A diverse population that is insufficiently addressed in the literature is missionary kids (MKs). Further, studies investigating the relationship between spiritual struggles and PTSD among MKs remain under-researched. Moreover, while studies document the existence of mental health disorders among MKs, a formal investigation examining PTSD symptomology among MKs had yet to be conducted. For this study, participants were recruited via purposive and snowball sampling, and 81 individuals completed the study. This quantitative study investigated PTSD symptomology among adult MKs, measured by the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, using a one-sample t-test to compare the sample mean to the cut-off score of 33 to determine if the average score met the clinical criteria for an official PTSD diagnosis. Divine and Doubt Religious and Spiritual struggles was examined through a one-sample t-test to analyze the data, using a score of 4 as the comparison value, as it represents experiencing spiritual struggles quite a bit. Spirituality among this population was measured by the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale. Additionally, the correlation between PTSD symptomology, as measured by the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, and spirituality, as measured by the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, was examined using a two-tailed Pearson correlation coefficient test. Findings suggest that MKs experience mild levels of PTSD symptomology, some/little religious and spiritual struggles, but not significant levels. Higher levels of spirituality were related to lower levels of PTSD symptomology. Post-hoc analysis revealed higher levels of PTSD symptoms were correlated with high levels of Divine and Doubt religious and spiritual struggles. The findings from the study have implications for missionary parents, mission organizations, and mental health professionals when considering the mental health of MKs.

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS