Religiosity and Posttraumatic Stress Following Forced Relocation

Abstract

In order to examine the role of religiosity in situations of extreme stress, such as forced relocation, 326 Israeli settlers who were evicted from the Gaza Strip by the government were tested for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), intrusion and avoidance, and religiosity and religious support. Approximately 40% of the subjects suffered from PTSD. No correlation was found between PTSD and religiosity or religious support. However, among very religious people, high religious support predicted lower PTSD, while among the moderately religious, high religious support predicted higher PTSD. In addition, religiosity measures were positively correlated with intrusion and negatively correlated with avoidance.

This study was supported by a grant awarded by the Regional Research and Development Authority of Samaria and the Jordon Valley to the first author.

Notes

∗p < .01; ∗∗p < .001.

Note. INT = intrusion, AVD = avoidance. F values are shown.

∗p < .05; ∗∗p < .01; ∗∗∗p < .001.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lior Oren

Lior Oren, Ph.D., is a Social and Organizational Psychologist and the head of the B.A. program of Organizational Psychology in the Department of Behavioral Sciences in Ariel University Center, Israel. His research interests include stress and burnout, self-employment and entrepreneurship, and organizational behavior.

Chaya Possick

Chaya Possick, Ph.D., is the head of the B.A. program in the School of Social Work, Ariel University Center, Israel. She is a licensed family therapist and supervisor. Her research interests include coping with long-term security risks and political uncertainty, family bereavement as a result of terror attacks, and qualitative research methods.