Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of Spiritual and Religious Coping on PTSD

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Religion and spirituality can offer a powerful narrative and transcendent meaning in the face of trauma. When an individual uses religious beliefs or practices as a way of adapting to physical, psychological, and social challenges, this is termed religious or spiritual coping. Research on religious and spiritual coping suggests that purpose and meaning in life are associated with lower levels of PTSD symptoms and higher levels of positive emotions, but when an individual’s belief system is unable to make sense of the trauma or assist the individual in finding an integrated narrative, then the trauma can trigger a newfound questions about the existence of God and meaning in life. Spiritual struggle can result in greater levels of PTSD symptoms and complications on the path to recovery. This chapter will describe what religious and spiritual coping is, how it is associated with PTSD, and how clinicians can ethically and effectively integrate religious and spiritual dimensions into clinical work.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

MRP:

Mantram repetition program

PRACTICE:

Psychoeducation and parental treatment, relaxation, affective expression and modulation, cognitive coping skills, trauma narrative and cognitive processing of the trauma, in vivo desensitization to trauma reminders, conjoint parent–child sessions, and enhancing safety and future development

PTSD:

Post-traumatic stress disorder

SHAT:

Spiritual-hypnosis assisted therapy

ST:

Spirituality and trauma

TF-CBT:

Trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy

References

  • Ano G, Vasconcelles E. Religious coping and psychological adjustment to stress: a meta-analysis. J Clin Psychol. 2005;61(4):461–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bormann J, Thorp S, Wetherell J, Golshan S, Lang A. Meditation-based mantram intervention for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized trial. Psychol Trauma. 2012;19:259–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowland S, Edmond T, Fallot R. Evaluation of a spiritually focused intervention with older trauma survivors. Soc Work. 2012;57(1):73–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bryant-Davis T, Wong E. Faith to move mountains: religious coping, spirituality, and interpersonal trauma recovery. Am Psychol. 2013;68(8):675–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carver C, Scheier M, Weintraub J. Assessing coping strategies: a theoretically based approach. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1989;56(2):267–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Conwill W. Chronic pain conceptualization and religious interpretation. J Religion Health. 1986;25(1):46–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dull V, Skokan L. A cognitive model of religion’s influence on health. J Soc Issues. 1995;51(2):49–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunkel-Schetter C, Feinstein L, Taylor S, Falke R. Patterns of coping with cancer. Health Psychol. 1992;11(2):79–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ellison C. Religious involvement and self perception among Black Americans. Soc Forces. 1993;71(4):1027–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellison C, Levin J. The religion–health connection: evidence, theory, and future directions. Health Educ Behav. 1998;25(6):700–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feder A, Ahmad S, Lee E, Morgan J, Singh R, Smith B, Charney D. Coping and PTSD symptoms in Pakistani earthquake survivors: purpose in life, religious coping and social support. J Affect Disord. 2013;147(1–3):156–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foy D, Drescher K, Smith M. Addressing religion and spirituality in military settings and veterans’ services. In: Pargament K, Mahoney A, Shafranske E, editors. APA handbook of psychology, religion, and spirituality. vol 2: an applied psychology of religion and spirituality. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2013. p. 561–76.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Gall T, Guirguis-Younger M. Religious and spiritual coping: current theory and research. In: Pargament K, Exline J, Jones J, editors. APA handbook of psychology, religion, and spirituality. vol 1: context, theory, and research. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2013. p. 349–64.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Gerber M, Boals A, Schuettler D. The unique contributions of positive and negative religious coping to posttraumatic growth and PTSD. Psychol Relig Spiritual. 2011;3(4):298–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janoff-Bulman R. Assumptive worlds and the stress of traumatic events: applications of the schema construct. Soc Cogn. 1989;7(2):113–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins R, Pargament K. Cognitive appraisals in cancer patients. Soc Sci Med. 1988;26(6):625–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jim H, Merluzzi T, Danhauer S, Pustejovsky J, Munoz A, Fitchett G, Park C, Sherman A, George L, Salsman J. A meta-analysis of the relationship between religion/spirituality and physical health in cancer survivors. Ann Behav Med. 2014;47 Suppl 1:s61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkpatrick L. An attachment-theory approach to the psychology of religion. Int J Psychol Relig. 1992;2(1):3–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig H. Religious beliefs and practices of hospitalized medically ill older adults. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 1998;15:282–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig H. Religion and spirituality in coping with acute and chronic illness. In: Pargament K, Mahoney A, Shafranske E, editors. APA handbook of psychology, religion, and spirituality. vol 2: an applied psychology of religion and spirituality. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2013. p. 275–95.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ladd K, McIntosh D. Meaning, god, and prayer: physical and metaphysical aspects of social support. Ment Health Relig Cult. 2008;11(1):23–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus R, Folkman S. Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer; 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leaman S, Gee C. Religious coping and risk factors for psychological distress among African torture survivors. Psychol Trauma Theory Res Prac Policy. 2012;4(5):457–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lesmana C, Suryani L, Jensen G, Tiliopoulos N. A spiritual-hypnosis assisted treatment of children with PTSD after the 2002 Bali terrorist attack. Am J Clin Hypn. 2009;52(1):23–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mattlin J, Wethington E, Kessler R. Situational determinants of coping and coping effectiveness. J Health Soc Behav. 1990;31(1):103–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh D, Poulin M, Silver R, Holman E. The distinct roles of spirituality and religiosity in physical and mental health after collective trauma: a national longitudinal study of responses to the 9/11 attacks. J Behav Med. 2011;34(6):497–507.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meisenhelder J, Marcum J. Responses of clergy to 9/11: posttraumatic stress, coping, and religious outcomes. J Sci Study Relig. 2004;43(4):547–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merluzzi T, Sherman A, Park C, George L, Fitchett G, Jim H, Munoz A, Pustejovsky J, Danhauer S, Salsman J. A meta-analytic review of religion/spirituality and social QOL among cancer patients. Ann Behav Med. 2014;47 Suppl 1:s61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton A, McIntosh D. Associations of general religiousness and specific religious beliefs with coping appraisals in response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Ment Health Relig Cult. 2009;12(2):129–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament K. The psychology of religion and coping: theory, research, practice. New York: Guilford Press; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament K. Searching for the sacred: toward a nonreductionistic theory of spirituality. In: Pargament K, Exline J, Jones J, editors. APA handbook of psychology, religion, and spirituality. vol 1: context, theory, and research. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2013. pp 257–273.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament K, Park C. Merely a defense? The variety of religious means and ends. J Soc Issues. 1995;51(2):13–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament K, Kennell J, Hathaway W, Grevengoed N. Religion and the problem-solving process: three styles of coping. J Sci Study Relig. 1988;27(1):90–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament K, Ensing D, Falgout K, Olsen H, Reilly B, Van Haitsma K, Warren R. God help me: I. Religious coping efforts as predictors of the outcomes to significant negative life events. Am J Community Psychol. 1990;18(6):793–824.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament K, Olsen H, Reilly B, Falgout K, Ensing D, VanHaitsma K. God help me: II. The relationship of religious orientations to religious coping with negative life events. J Sci Study Relig. 1992;31(4):504–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament K, Smith B, Koenig H, Perez L. Patterns of positive and negative religious coping with major life stressors. J Sci Study Relig. 1998;37(4):710–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament K, Zinnbauer B, Scott A, Butter E, Zerowin J, Stanik P. Red flags and religious coping: identifying some religious warning signs among people in crisis. J Clin Psychol. 2003;59(12):1335–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament K, Koenig H, Tarakeshwar N, Hahn J. Religious coping methods as predictors of psychological, physical and spiritual outcomes among medically ill elderly patients: a two-year longitudinal study. J Health Psychol. 2004;9(6):713–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ringdal G, Gotestam K, Kaasa S, Kvinnslaud S, Ringdal K. Prognostic factors and survival in a heterogeneous sample of cancer patients. Br J Cancer. 1996;73:1594–9.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salsman J, Munoz A, Pustejovsky J, Jim H, Park C, Danhauer S, Sherman A, George L, Merluzzi T, Fitchett G. A meta-analytic approach to examine the relationship between religion/spirituality and mental health in cancer. Ann Behav Med. 2014;47 Suppl 1:s60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shannon D, Oakes K, Scheers N, Richardson F, Stills A. Religious beliefs as moderator of exposure to violence in African American adolescents. Psychol Relig Spiritual. 2013;5(3):172–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siegel K, Anderman S, Schrimshaw E. Religion and coping with health-related stress. Psychol Health. 2001;16(6):631–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. Pew Research Center, Washington, DC. (2008). Retrieved 18 August 2015 from http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf

  • Walker D, Reese J, Hughes J, Troskie M. Addressing religious and spiritual issues in trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy for children and adolescents. Prof Psychol Res Pract. 2010;41(2):174–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Widener University, Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology, One University Place, Chester, PA, 19013-5792, USA

    Courtney L. Slater, Jessica Bordenave & Bret A. Boyer

Authors
  1. Courtney L. Slater
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jessica Bordenave
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bret A. Boyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Courtney L. Slater .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Buckinghamshire New University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, United Kingdom

    Colin R. Martin

  2. Kings College, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this entry

Cite this entry

Slater, C.L., Bordenave, J., Boyer, B.A. (2015). Impact of Spiritual and Religious Coping on PTSD. In: Martin, C., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08613-2_49-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08613-2_49-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-08613-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation