Religious and Spiritual Aspects of Disaster Experience Among Survivors of the 9/11 Attacks on New York City's World Trade Center.

This study examined religious and spiritual aspects of disaster experience among 379 survivors of the 9/11 attacks on New York City's World Trade Center. Interviews conducted 35 months after the disaster provided structured diagnostic assessments of psychiatric disorders and specific detail of demographic characteristics, experience of the disaster, and variables related to religion and spirituality. The study participants overwhelmingly identified with a specific religion. The disaster appeared to have only modest effects on strength and importance of religion/spirituality, and changes were predominantly positive. Specific religions and faith groups differed in their disaster experience in important ways.