Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Joseph Robare

Abstract

A ready military force is essential for the safekeeping of the United States and the well-being of United States Armed Forces personnel. Today, healthcare professionals report disproportionately high rates of chronic disease and substance abuse among United States Armed Forces personnel and disabling mental health disorders that often go untreated. This quantitative research aimed to determine if there was a relationship between United States Armed Forces personnel using mindfulness meditation and their health status. The study used Bandura's social cognitive theory as its framework and theoretical foundation. Also, a quantitative experimental research design examined the causal relationships between the predictor, outcome, and control variables. The study utilized the 2017-2021 census and survey data from the IPUMS Health Surveys: NHIS and MEPS database and SPSS (version 28) to analyze data on the military population and their health status. The study employed ordinal logistic regression, Chi-square test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) as statistical analyses. The research questions and corresponding hypotheses were formulated to examine the associations between the variables of interest. The study found using mindfulness meditation in military settings was associated with reduced risks of chronic pain, stress, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder resulting from combat exposure among military members. Mindfulness meditation was linked to decreased activity limitation and shorter duration of depression, anxiety, and emotional problems in military personnel. Administrators may use findings for positive social change to better serve military members.

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