Assessing the link between Bible reading and flourishing among military families: Preliminary findings

Bradshaw, M., Jang, S. J., & Johnson, B. R. (2025). Assessing the link between Bible reading and flourishing among military families: Preliminary findings. Armed Forces & Society, 51(3), 933-958. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095327X231211554

Hero Squad is a free children’s program designed to promote religiosity and flourishing (i.e., long-term well-being) among military-connected children and families through Bible reading. The program mails its materials to families; parents then guide program delivery through family devotionals and by encouraging their children to read the Bible. Parents reported on changes in religiosity and flourishing in their family (N=175 military families) during 3 months of Hero Squad participation. Before and after participation, parents also reported their children’s religiosity (i.e., reading the Bible, praying, and asking God for forgiveness) children’s flourishing (i.e., positive and negative affect and behavior), parents’ religiosity (i.e., reading the Bible, the impact and centrality of the Bible, and coping with military stressors), and the family unit’s religiosity (e.g., reading the Bible together) and family flourishing (e.g., listening to each other’s concerns, spending time together). Overall, parents reported increases in most aspects of religiosity and flourishing after participating in Hero Squad.

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