Prediction of war veteran's mental health based on spiritual well-being, social support and self-efficacy variables: The mediating role of life satisfaction

J Educ Health Promot. 2014 Jun 23:3:57. doi: 10.4103/2277-9531.134757. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Introduction: The present study aims to provide a model for explaining the mental health of war veterans based on the variables of spiritual well-being, social support, and self-efficacy, with the mediating role of life satisfaction.

Materials and methods: The research method was descriptive a correlational. The study samples included 210 veterans, who had records in the Veterans Foundation in Tehran's number one district, Sarallah and Imam Khomeini shelters and Essaar Sports Center in Tehran. They were selected randomly and were asked to respond to questionnaires on mental health, spiritual well-being, life satisfaction, social support, and self-efficacy. The data was analyzed by LISREL software version 8.5, using the path analysis.

Results: The results showed that the designed model fitted the data (AGFI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.00 and NFI = 1.00). In the fitted model, life satisfaction and spiritual well-being directly, and social support indirectly, had a significant relationship with the mediator variable of life satisfaction of the war veterans' mental health.

Conclusions: Veterans with better social support, life satisfaction, and spiritual well-being have better mental health.

Keywords: Life satisfaction; mental health; self-efficacy; social support; spiritual well-being; veterans.