Outcomes of Belief in Just World Among Victims of Natural and Man-Made Disaster: Moderating Role of Resilience

In the present study the effect of belief in just world on the prediction of well-being, depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among victims of natural and man-made disaster was examined. The moderating role of resilience in the relationship between belief in just world and depression among victims of natural and man-made disaster was also studied. Belief in Just World Scale (Dalbert, 1999), Ego Resiliency Scale (Block Kreman, 1996), Psychological Well-being Scale (Khan, 2008), Impact of Events Scale (Horowitz, Wilner, Alvarez, 1979), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (Lovibond Lovibond, 1995) were used for data collection from 220 disaster victims including victims of natural disaster and man-made disaster. Linear regression analysis, multiple moderated regression analysis, and independent sample t-test were computed to test the hypotheses. Belief in just world positively predicted well-being, whereas negatively predicted depression, and PTSD among victims of natural, man-made disaster and overall disaster victims. Resilience moderated the relationship between belief in just world and depression among the victims of natural and man-made disaster. Results on the gender differences revealed that female disaster victims exhibited more belief in just world as compared to male victims. Similarly, female victims of man-made disaster also exhibited higher levels of belief in just world as compared to male victims. However, results revealed nonsignificant gender differences among victims of natural disaster.