The Mediating Effect of Coping on the Relationship between Religious Social Support and Posttraumatic Stress among Religious Individuals with Prenatal Loss

Estee Konig, Pace University

Abstract

Research regarding religious factors that buffer against the negative effects of prenatal loss have not taken into account the extent to which women who have had prenatal loss experience trauma. The current study seeks to explore the relationship between religious social support, types of coping, and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) following prenatal loss. A sample of 109 religiously affiliated women who experienced prenatal loss completed measures assessing religious social support, avoidance and approach coping strategies, and PTSS. Results revealed that although an association exists between religious social support and PTSS, other factors, such as gestational age of the fetus, are more significant predictors of PTSS following prenatal loss. Mediation analysis using Hayes' MACRO (Hayes, 2013) revealed that avoidance coping mediates the association between religious social support and PTSS, in that more religious social support is associated with less avoidance, which in turn, is associated with less PTSS. Approach coping did not act as a mediator in the association between religious social support and PTSS. Interventions designed to decrease avoidance coping and maximize the benefits of religious social support may be most helpful in decreasing PTSS in women who have experienced prenatal loss.

Subject Area

Mental health|Obstetrics|Clinical psychology

Recommended Citation

Konig, Estee, "The Mediating Effect of Coping on the Relationship between Religious Social Support and Posttraumatic Stress among Religious Individuals with Prenatal Loss" (2018). ETD Collection for Pace University. AAI10991931.
https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/dissertations/AAI10991931

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