The mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between moral injury and resilience among mental health professionals during wartime

The current study examined the relationships between moral injury, Psychological Capital (PsyCap), and resilience among Israeli Mental Health Professionals (MHPs) during wartime. It aimed to explore the negative impact of moral injury on PsyCap and resilience, as well as the mediating role of PsyCap in this relationship. A sample of 133 MHPs (mean age 46.99 years, SD=10.80), recruited through social media platforms and professional instant messaging groups, completed questionnaires assessing moral injury, PsyCap, and resilience. Correlational analyses revealed that moral injury was negatively associated with both PsyCap and resilience, while PsyCap showed a positive link with resilience. Mediation analysis further indicated that PsyCap significantly mediated the relationship between moral injury and resilience, highlighting PsyCap as a potential mechanism through which moral injury diminishes resilience among MHPs during ongoing war. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing PsyCap in MHPs, as it may serve as a vital pathway for maintaining resilience in extreme working conditions. From a theoretical and a practical perspective, these results suggest that PsyCap may be a significant contributor for MHPs during wartime, allowing them to remain resilient, motivated, resourceful, and maintaining their practical care under extreme challenges. Without PsyCap, moral injury may be associated with lower levels of resilience among MHPs amid warfare.