When reliance on religion falters: Religious coping and post-traumatic stress symptoms in older adults after multiple disasters

Keywords

disasters, non-organizational religiosity, PTSD, qualitative methods

Abstract

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina brought devastating losses to Gulf Coast communities. In this study, Katrina survivors answered open-ended questions about coping with hurricane-related challenges. The sample was partitioned into low and high scorers on a non-organizational religiosity scale. Content analyses revealed that low scorers described secular strategies, relied less on a church community in the aftermath of the storms, and exhibited active religious coping. High scorers referenced a greater need for God and faith, highly valued their church as a coping resource, and described passive religious coping strategies. Implications of the loss of familiar religious routines after disaster are discussed.

Original Publication Citation

*Stanko, K. E., Cherry, K. E., Marks, L. D., Sampson, L., *Ryker, L., *Barrios, B., Anderson, R., Sanchez, S., & Allen, K. (2018). When reliance on religion falters: Religious coping and post-traumatic stress symptoms in older adults after multiple disasters. Journal of Religion, Spirituality and Aging, 30, 292-313.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2018-02-23

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/7642

Publisher

Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Link to Full Text

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