title: Avoidant coping as a mediator between self-reported sexual abuse and stress-related symptoms in adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated to what extent the more severe consequences of sexual trauma in adolescents are mediated by coping strategies. Furthermore, this study explored differences in symptoms, self-esteem and coping in a group that reported sexual abuse, in a group that reported another stressful experience, and in a group that reported no stressful episode until now.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine-hundred seventy adolescents aged 11-19 years were asked to complete self-report questionnaires assessing traumatic symptoms (Trauma Symptom Checklist, Briere, 1996); self-image (Self-Description Questionnaire II, Marsh, 1990) and coping (How I Cope Under Pressure Scale, Ayers, Sandler, West, & Roosa, 1996).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-two percent of the participants reported a lifetime prevalence of a stressful event. Participants who reported sexual abuse (10%) reported more traumatic symptoms and more avoidant coping strategies than the adolescents who reported another type of stressful event. Results revealed that avoidant coping is a mediator between sexual abuse and the severity of symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexually abused adolescents exhibited more symptoms and used more avoidant coping strategies than adolescents in the other groups. Avoidant coping can be seen as a mediator between a sexual stressful event and the consequent stress-related symptoms. Results reveal the importance of assessment and consideration of coping strategies in prevention and in therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Behavioral Therapy and Research, Department of Psychology, Ghent University, H. Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bal
authors.forename: Paulette
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Oost
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Bourdeaudhuij
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crombez
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires