Spiritual and Non-spiritual Needs Among German Soldiers and Their Relation to Stress Perception, PTDS Symptoms, and Life Satisfaction: Results from a Structural Equation Modeling Approach.

In an anonym cross-sectional survey (using standardized questionnaires) among 1092 German soldiers, we found that 21 % regard their faith as a "strong hold in difficult times." Only a few had specific religious needs. Rather, a consistent theme from the participants was the need to communicate their own fears, worries and desire to attain states of inner peace. "Soldiers" stress perception and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms were associated particularly with existential and Inner Peace Needs. Structural equation modeling indicated that stress perception has a negative influence on soldiers' life satisfaction, which in turn gives rise to specific unmet spiritual needs. These specific needs may indicate psycho-emotional problems which could be supported very early to prevent health affections and service failure.