Religion as a form of coping with stressful and traumatic events: The case of March Eleven bombing

This paper examined the psychosocial effects of the participation in religious public and private (prayer) rituals using data about March- Eleven bombing. The longitudinal studies in March Eleven contrast all these functions but social control. Evidence support all this functions, with the exception of anxiety regulation for prayer and social cohesion for worship ceremonies. Participants that reports a higher level of prayer and participation on worships ceremonies one week after M-11 at three weeks follow-up also reports higher level of altruistic coping, higher acceptance coping and higher search for social support, emotional expression and re-evaluation coping and was associated with collectivistic and benevolent values. Higher prayer and participation in worship ceremonies predict positive affect, positive self-concept but higher perception intrapersonal, interpersonal and social benefits of traumatic reaction were related only to prayer and participation in secular rebellion rituals, confirming that both types of rituals reinforce well-being. At two months follow-up higher levels of prayer one week after M-11 predict lower loneliness three weeks after and a more positive perceived emotional and social climate two months later.