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Using Behavioral Economics to Predict Sensitivity to Moral Injury in Military Recruits: Validation of the Moral Injury Purchase Task

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to validate the Moral Injury Purchase Task, a novel behavioral economic tool, and to understand military recruits' sensitivity to morally injurious events. Methods: Participants (N = 26) read a scenario that could prompt hypothetical feelings of moral injury and then reported the number of years they would purchase services – at varying price points – to help forget their experiences in war. Participants also completed the Moral Injury Events Scale (MIES). We calculated various demand indices and developed demand curves for military recruits and service/members veterans using Koffarnus et al's equation. Results: Results showed that the demand curves for the 2 populations were not significantly different (F1,438 = 5.30, p = .07) and the coefficient of determination was satisfactory when modeled on the entire sample (R2 = .90). MIES scores were positively associated with participants' Pmax values (p = .03), providing preliminary evidence of convergent validity. Conclusions: This study provides initial evidence of the utility of using behavioral economics to assist in identifying recruits' susceptibility to moral injury and thereby better target preventive services.

Keywords: BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS; MILITARY RECRUITS; MORAL INJURY; PURCHASE TASK; VETERANS

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: School of Human Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, United States 2: School of Human Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA 3: School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, United States 4: Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, United States

Publication date: August 1, 2023

This article was made available online on October 3, 2023 as a Fast Track article with title: "Using Behavioral Economics to Predict Sensitivity to Moral Injury in Military Recruits: Validation of the Moral Injury Purchase Task".

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  • Health Behavior and Policy Review is a rigorously peer-reviewed scholarly bi-monthly publication that seeks manuscripts on health behavior or policy topics that represent original research, including papers that examine the development, advocacy, implementation, or evaluation of policies around specific health issues. The Review especially welcomes papers that tie together health behavior and policy recommendations. Articles are available through subscription or can be ordered individually from the Health Behavior and Policy Review site.
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