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Article
Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Resilience, and Religious Orientation and Practices Among University Student Earthquake Survivors in Haiti
Faculty Publications
  • Harvey J Burnett, Jr, Andrews University
  • Herbert Helm, Andrews University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2013
Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of PTSD symptoms; the relationship between PTSD and resilience, religious orientation and religious practices; and how gender is associated with these variables among a volunteer sample of 140 students attending a Christian university in Haiti approximately four months after the January 2010 earthquake. Using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C), the Resilience Scale (RS), and the Religious Orientation Scale (ROS) found no significant relationship between PTSD, resilience, religious orientation and religious practices. Results did indicate that 34% of the sample had PCL-C scores indicative of PTSD; female participants had higher PTSD symptoms than males; higher levels of intrinsic religious orientation were associated with more religious practices than extrinsic religious orientation; and males with higher PTSD symptoms were associated with lower levels of attending church-sponsored social events, while females with higher levels of resilience were more associated with church attendance and attending church social events. Mental health providers should develop more comprehensive disaster mental health services that build trust and are culturally sensitive to the post-trauma needs of the Haitian people.

Journal Title
International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience
Citation Information
Harvey J Burnett and Herbert Helm. "Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Resilience, and Religious Orientation and Practices Among University Student Earthquake Survivors in Haiti" Vol. 15 Iss. 2 (2013) p. 97 - 104
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/herbert_helm/14/