Spirituality/Medicine Interface Project

Religious Coping with Terrorism and Natural Disaster

Authors: Kelly M. Trevino, PhD, Kenneth I. Pargament, PhD

Abstract

The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were traumatic and stressful for many individuals. Three to five days after the attacks, 44% of adults reported experiencing at least one symptom of stress.1 Sixteen percent of these adults continued to experience at least one stress symptom two months later.2 In the midst of this crisis, many Americans turned to their religious and spiritual beliefs for comfort and support. Seventy-five percent of a national sample reported turning to their religion or spirituality “a medium amount” to “a lot” to cope with the attacks.1 Sixty-two percent of a sample of undergraduate and graduate students reported praying to cope with stress following 9/11.3These results indicate that Americans relied on their religious and spiritual beliefs and practices to cope with the 9/11 attacks. This article reviews research on global religiousness and religious coping in the context of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and other traumatic events such as natural disasters. In addition, we will discuss clinical techniques for assessing and utilizing the religious resources of individuals who have experienced terrorist attacks or other traumatic events.

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References

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