LAUSR

BACKGROUND A disaster is a traumatic event that many people may have witnessed and had various implications on their mental and physical wellbeing. Psychologists have confirmed the fact that the traumatic event contributes not just to stress but also to posttraumatic growth (PTG), which evolves through the attempt to reunify after trauma or accident has disrupted fundamental life expectations. This study was conducted to explore and understand the factors leading to PTG among victims of disasters. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Thirty victims who experienced traumatic events were included in this study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. RESULTS Themes created include closeness to God (Allah), acceptance, contentment, self-reliance, a vision of life, and responsibility as necessary factors leading to PTG. The highest percentage (88.1%) was observed for closeness to Allah and within that Salat and Zikr (prayers and remembrance) as coping strategies were recorded for all 30 participants. CONCLUSION The findings show that religious beliefs and closeness to God can bring great changes in victims' life after a traumatic experience.