The role of religious education in coping with earthquake-induced post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms

In this study examining the role of religious education in coping with the symptoms of earthquake-induced post-traumatic stress disorder, semi-structured interview technique was used.Interview method was preferred as the data collection method and face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 participants in Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Malatya, Adıyaman and Gaziantep.MAXQDA version 24.2.0 was used to analyze the data.According to the findings of the study, the most effective source of religious education was determined as "family". The participants stated that they mostly used the method of "praying" with the religious education they received. It was determined that all participants with different religious education experiences mostly used religious coping methods to cope with PTSD symptoms that emerged in this process. As a result of the research, it was determined that religious education provides "inner peace" in coping with the symptoms of earthquake-induced post-traumatic stress disorder. It was determined that men resorted to religious coping methods less than women, and married participants resorted to religious coping methods more than single, divorced or widowed participants. In addition, it was determined that there was a positive relationship between education level and religious coping, and it was concluded that religious education has a positive effect on using religious coping methods and coping with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.