EXAMINING THE DUAL NATURE OF POST-MISSION MENTAL HEALTH: AN ANALYSIS OF MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS AND POSITIVE WELL-BEING AMONG RETURNED MISSIONARIES OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
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.