Citation

Shin HJ, Mwiti G, Tomosada M, Eriksson CB. J. Prev. Interv. Community 2017; 45(4): 250-260.

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Psychology , Fuller Theological Seminary , Pasadena , California , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10852352.2016.1197753

PMID

28880813

Abstract

Adults (N = 703) in Nairobi, Kenya completed a screening survey in the aftermath of the postelection violence (PEV) of 2008. This study examined associations between exposure to PEV, prior trauma exposure, religious coping, and psychiatric distress.

RESULTS indicated a dose-response effect of the amount of PEV and prior trauma exposure on the severity of concurrent symptoms of psychiatric distress. Over 90% of the sample reported a religious affiliation, and the majority of participants also reported frequent use of religious coping strategies. However, there was no significant effect for the use of turning to religion as a form of coping on psychiatric distress. Study results aligned with existing research on the dose-response, cumulative effect of frequent exposure to trauma. Further research can investigate the nuanced ways that community members use their religion to cope.

Language: en

Keywords

Kenya; postelection violence; religious coping; trauma exposure