Deliberate Cognitive Processing Mediates the Relation Between Positive Religious Coping and Posttraumatic Growth

Although many studies have detailed the maladies imposed by Hurricane Katrina, little work has examined potential benefits following the storm. Posttraumatic growth describes personal betterment or development following a traumatic event in areas such as perceived changes in self, a changed sense of relations with others, and a changed philosophy of life. Researchers have demonstrated a relation between posttraumatic growth and varying factors, including positive religious coping. The current study attempted to establish deliberate cognitive processing (or rumination) as a mediator between religious coping and posttraumatic growth in a sample of hurricane-exposed women. Results suggested that deliberate cognitive processing fully mediated the relation between religious coping and posttraumatic growth.