Trauma, Religion, and Social Support among African American Women

African American women have disparate rates of trauma exposure and subsequent PTSD that is often considered in relation to their religion, spirituality, and the availability of social support. The present study adds to the existing literature by examining various religious behaviors and social support among 101 African American women who were distinguished based on the problemgenerating nature of their traumatic event. Almost all of the women experienced an event (91%), of which a majority of the events qualified as traumatic (61%), and a quarter of the women who experienced an event (27%) experienced the additive influence of PTSD. A majority of the women reported frequent religious behaviors such as daily prayer (80%) and taking religious advice or teaching into consideration (67%). Most also reported the availability of social support. There was a higher probability of being in the additive PTSD group if women had ever married and reported poorer health. Women with PTSD were also more likely to receive comfort and security from religion and report regular Bible reading when compared to women who did not have a qualifying event. Implications of the results for the promotion of healing from trauma exposure among African American women are discussed.