The Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Adolescent Spirituality

Research has demonstrated the positive effects of spirituality on mental health among adults. Similar results have been reported among adolescents. Spirituality has also been linked to prosocial development and identity formation during adolescence. Studies examining the relationship between trauma and spirituality among adults have found that trauma can indeed negatively affect spirituality, but research examining the effect of trauma on adolescent spirituality is sparse. The current study examined the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptoms and spirituality among a population of adolescent males at a residential treatment facility (RTF) who are at high risk for traumatic experience. Results indicate that spirituality, particularly self-reported spiritual well-being, religious and spiritual beliefs, overall self-ranking of spirituality, and meaning was higher among adolescents with significant PTSD symptoms. In light of other research and psychological theory, it seems that trauma can affect spirituality in different ways, depending on how a person changes his or her pre-existing beliefs as a result of the traumatic experience. This has important implications for prosocial development and mental health among adolescent victims of trauma.