Religious Coping in Female Undergraduate Sexual Assault Survivors

Abstract

An undergraduate student’s religious beliefs and practices can affect how they process and cope with traumatic events like sexual assault. This three-article dissertation explored how current Christian, female undergraduate students utilized religious coping after experiencing a sexual assault and how other support entities may influence their coping process. The first basic qualitative research study aimed to understand how Christian college campus ministers and religious leaders support female undergraduate students who have experienced a sexual assault. Religious leaders appropriately referred student survivors to professional counseling but struggled to fully understand trauma-informed support when encouraging survivors to report to authorities. The second paper examined what kind and to what degree religious coping strategies are used by Christian female undergraduate student sexual assault survivors. Survivors utilized their faith to cope with their trauma and desired positive support from religious leaders; however, many did not feel comfortable disclosing to religious leaders. The final paper explored higher education non-clinical case managers supported a female undergraduate student’s religious coping. Case managers were confident in their ability to support a student’s religious needs but were unlikely to provide religious resources unless asked directly by the student. The results and implications helped to inform individuals who may work with female college students, like religious leaders and university administrators, on how students may utilize religious coping after experiencing a sexual assault.