Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/31909
Title: Walking Forwards with Moral Injury: Narratives from Ex-serving Australian Defence Force Members
Contributor(s): Jamieson, Nikki  (author)orcid ; Usher, Kim  (author)orcid ; Ratnarajah, Dorothy  (author); Maple, Myfanwy  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2021
Early Online Version: 2021-05-27
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.21061/jvs.v7i1.214
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/31909
Abstract: 

Military personnel can be exposed to events such as killing or human suffering that can breach or violate their core moral frameworks. The breaching or violation of one's core moral framework can create moral trauma-often termed "moral injury." Moral injury has gained increased attention during the last decade due to its links to military suicide. The core characteristics of moral injury have not yet reached a universal consensus but can include deep feelings of shame, guilt, distrust, anger, and self-condemnation. Few studies have focused on moral injury in Australia. This paper is one of several published from a larger PhD study. The purpose of this paper is to understand participants' experiences of moral injury. Analysis of the data revealed the overarching theme-walking forwards with moral injury-describing participants' experiences of living with a moral injury and how they navigated and made meaning of their experience. From this overarching theme, three sub-themes emerged: (a) meaning-making and moral injury, (b) narratives of transformation, and (c) leading the charge. The study found that to continue "walking forwards" a transformation of identity was needed. The transformation happened when an understanding of the meaning underpinning identity occurred, and when validation and reconciliation of the experience were achieved. These findings enhance knowledge of the mechanisms needed to better support veterans living with moral injury in Australia. Outcomes from this work may assist clinicians or those working with military veterans in providing more appropriate care to those experiencing moral injury.

Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Journal of Veterans Studies, 7(1), p. 174-185
Publisher: VT Publishing
Place of Publication: United States of America
ISSN: 2470-4768
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 420399 Health services and systems not elsewhere classified
420699 Public health not elsewhere classified
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 200499 Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified
200599 Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health) not elsewhere classified
200399 Provision of health and support services not elsewhere classified
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Health

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