Author Date

2024-08-02

Degree Name

BS

Department

Psychology

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Defense Date

2024-07-26

Publication Date

2024-08-02

First Faculty Advisor

Dr. Blake Jones

First Faculty Reader

Dr. Steven Hoffman

Honors Coordinator

Dr. Ed Gantt

Keywords

mental health, LDS missionary, returned missionaries, spiritual growth, faith-based experiences, return missionary well-being

Abstract

This study explores mental health and general well-being amongst returned missionaries who served and completed full-time proselyting missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Through a combination of survey data and semi-structured interviews with 15 participants, the research investigated emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental changes experienced during their missions, and how those experiences affected them post-mission. Findings show that majority of participants viewed their mission as a positive experience overall, with few reporting on negative experiences. Very few studies have explored returned missionaries and their mental health; not touching on the specific population of missionaries who finish their missions versus the more common studies of missionaries who return early.

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