The purpose of the present study is to find out how Christian soldiers' image of God and their self-esteem affect their adjustments into military service, and how different an adjusted group and a maladjusted group are from each other regarding the im...
The purpose of the present study is to find out how Christian soldiers' image of God and their self-esteem affect their adjustments into military service, and how different an adjusted group and a maladjusted group are from each other regarding the image of God and self-esteem. Through the result of research, this study has discovered some factors that enhance Christian soldiers' adjustments into military service.
To collect data, a survey has been conducted on Christian soldiers serving at six Air Force fighter wings, using 455 samples for analysis. The summaries of the research are as follows.
First, among general features of Christian soldiers, their financial status, having a clear goal to achieve after military discharge, and participation in religious activities have been found to affect the level of their adjustment into military service. Those soldiers who claim to enjoy a high level of financial security are much better adjusted to military service than those soldiers who feel themselves belonging to the middle class. These research results are statistically significant. Therefore special attention should be paid to those financially difficult soldiers whose family background requires a deep understanding. In addition, a group of soldiers that have a clear goal to achieve after military discharge adjusted themselves better to military service than the group that does not. If there is a professional counseling program that helps soldiers find their course of life after discharge, their level of adjustment will be increased. Also, it has been discovered that the more soldiers participate in religious activities, the better they get adjusted to military service. This indicates that religious activities contribute to improving Christian soldiers’ adaptability to military service.
Second, as for the relations between the image of God, self-esteem, and adjustments into military service, every sub-factor shows statistically significant correlations. Comparing differences in the image of God and self-esteem between an adjusted group and a maladjusted group has been productive. The adjusted group shows statistically significant higher average scores in all six sub-factors of the image of God and four sub-factors of self-esteem. This indicates that the image of God and self-esteem are considerably important factors in adjustment into military service. How one perceives God and himself makes a difference to adaptability.
Third, this study examines how sub-factors of the image of God and self-esteem affect Christian soldiers’ adjustment into military service and divide them into an adjusted group and a maladjusted group.
In the Christian soldier group, two sub-factors of the image of God, 'influence' and 'acceptance', have positive correlations, whereas the other sub-factor of the image of God, 'providence' has a negative correlation. Among sub-factors of self-esteem, the factors of 'leadership and popularity' and 'self-assertion and conviction' have been discovered that matter most to adjustment into military service.
In the adjusted group, 'influence' has a positive correlation, and 'providence' has a negative correlation. Adjusted Christian soldiers perceive that God makes history in this world through their actions, that an almighty God listens to their prayers, and they are influential because they are the children of God. 'Self-assertion and conviction' has meaningful influences on adjustment.
In the maladjusted group, among sub-factor of the image of God, 'acceptance' influences adjustment into their military service. It indicates that Christian soldiers who have difficulties adjusting to the military service need to accept the experience of God’s forgiveness. Among self-esteem, 'leadership and popularity' is an influential factor to adjustment.
In conclusion, under the image of God, the factor of 'influence' has a considerable power of explanation to adjustment. On the other hand, the maladjusted Christian soldiers do not properly recognize that God’s 'influence' has a high level of correlation in explaining the adjustment. This shows the differences between the adjusted group and the maladjusted group. Therefore, helping the maladjusted Christian soldiers group have an image of 'influence' God would enhance their adaptation to military service. It also indicates that the maladjusted Christian soldiers need to be exposed to an atmosphere of acceptance and have a perception of image of 'acceptance' God.
Fourth, as for the influence of the image of God in a relation where self-esteem affects their adjustment into military service, self-esteem has a direct influence on the adjustment and the influence increases when the image of God has been added. Self-esteem not only has a direct influence on adjustment and image of God but also has an additional influence on the adjustment through the image of God. Self-esteem based on self-image, the image of God that is being experienced in relations with God, and adjustment into military service based on interpersonal relationships have been found to have influential correlations.
The meanings of this study are as follows: Firstly, among many studies conducted on the image of God and self-esteem, this study is an experience study that applies it to real life, Christian soldier’s adjustment into military service. This study shows how specifically the image of God and self-esteem that Christian soldiers hold affect their adjustment into the military service.
Second, by dividing soldiers into an adjusted group and a maladjusted group, it could identify the features of adjusted soldiers and maladjusted soldiers, which have the power to explain adjustment into military service. The results have demonstrated which factors enhance the soldier’s adjustment. Features of the adjusted group and the maladjusted group among Christian soldiers help anticipate the features of general Christians. I