Coping Functions of Prayer and Posttraumatic Growth |
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| Authors: | J. Irene Harris Christopher R. Erbes Brian E. Engdahl Richard G. Tedeschi Raymond H. Olson Ann Marie M. Winskowski |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Minneapolis VA Medical Center, University of Minnesota, and University of Minnesota Medical School;2. Minneapolis VA Medical Center and University of Minnesota Medical School;3. University of North Carolina at Charlotte;4. Minnesota Veterans Research Institute and University of Minnesota;5. Minneapolis VA Medical Center |
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| Abstract: | Research on prayer and posttraumatic growth (PTG) indicates that those who pray report more PTG. Research is beginning to identify which types of prayer may be operating in this relationship. We sought to identify specific prayer functions related to PTG while considering differences due to the types of trauma experienced. Participants were trauma survivors from diverse, Midwestern Christian churches (N = 327). Participants completed questionnaires assessing trauma history, prayer coping functions, and PTG. Multiple linear regression analyses found that praying for calm and focus was independently related to higher levels of PTG. When considering all variables in the model, the relationship between prayer for calm and focus and PTG was not significant for those whose most significant trauma was interpersonal in nature, but significant for those with noninterpersonal trauma. |
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