In the present study, 64 Hurricane Katrina survivors were assessed 4 years post-storm regarding posttraumatic growth (PTG), religious orientation, religious coping, personal characteristic resource loss, and perceived psychological impact. Positive religious coping and personal characteristic resource loss (PCRL) each significantly and independently predicted posttraumatic growth, together accounting for approximately 27% of the variance. The regression model produced by the four predictor variables used accounted for 35% of the variance of PTG scores.

Previous research has shown positive religious coping to correlate with positive outcomes of trauma, including PTG (Proffitt et al., 2007; Ano & Vasconcelles, 2005; Shaw et al., 2005; three studies by Pargament, Koenig, & Perez, 2000; Pargament, Ano, & Wachholtz, 2005; and Pargament et al., 2008). Previous research has shown PCRL to correlate with negative psychological consequences from trauma (Sattler et al., 2002; Hobfall et al., 2008; Sattler et al., 2006). Research has also shown that PTG positively correlates with negative psychological consequences of trauma (Helgeson, Reynolds, & Tomich, 2006). Counter to hypotheses, religious coping did not moderate the relationship between PCRL and PTG. This study adds to the literature base on the mechanism of posttraumatic growth. Suggestions for future research and clinical implications of the study's findings are discussed.