A December 2011 survey by the Pew Research Center analyzed “Factors that Predict an Easy or Hard Re-entry into Civilian Life.”  It turns out being religious was the number one factor that could give troops an easier transition to civilian life (Pew graphic below the fold):

Higher levels of religious belief, as measured by frequent attendance at religious services, dramatically increases the odds that a post-9/11 veteran will have an easier time readjusting to civilian life.

According to the analysis, a recent veteran who attends religious services at least once a week has a 67 percent chance of having an easy re-entry experience. Among post-9/11 veterans who never attend services, the probability drops to 43%.

In an interesting twist, the study indicated that factor was unique to the post-9/11 environment:

Among veterans of other eras, current attendance at religious services is not correlated with ease of re-entry.

The analysis indicated part of the reason might have been a change in religiosity in older veterans since they exited the service.

Still, the center said the result was not surprising, as religiosity in society is “correlated” with other positives in life:

This finding is consistent with other studies of the general population that suggest religious belief is correlated with a number of positive outcomes, including better physical and emotional health, and happier and more satisfying personal relationships.

Probably the most surprising “poor indicator” of re-entry ease: the number of times a veteran was deployed.

Rebecca Townsend, a clinical psychologist and director of the non-profit group SAFE (Soldiers and Families Embraced, a non-profit soldiers’ mental health organization),

works extensively with veterans dealing with family problems and reintegration issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.

Of the report, Townsend said [emphasis added]

I think that religiosity does play a huge role in being able to do what we call ‘self-reckoning’ of what we’ve done. That gives (soldiers) the idea that they are doing a mission for a purpose higher than themselves.

When you are at war over and over and over again, I think that you have to have some source of religiosity and spirituality to continue to do that.

Jodi McCullah, head of the Lazarus Project (a non-profit veterans’ re-integration group) and a Methodist minister working with veterans, agreed:

“Especially for Christians in general,” she said, “the idea that a higher power is moving us towards forgiveness, grace, justice and a loving place — all of those things feed into that.”

War is an ugly thing, and a warrior’s transition from battle to home can certainly be difficult.

Much as the ability to understand the purpose of the mission helped ease the transition, understanding the greater purpose of one’s life can help ease the transition away from war.  It seems the Pew survey supported the view that belief in God — believing there is a higher purpose and something greater than oneself — can ease that transition as well.