title: Prospective study of the effectiveness of coping in pediatric patients.
abstract: Findings about the influence of coping on psychological adjustment in children with different medical conditions are inconsistent and often based on cross-sectional data. This prospective study evaluated the effect of various coping strategies on children's post-traumatic stress symptoms and behavioral problems 1 month and 1 year after an accidental injury or the diagnosis of a chronic disease in 161 pediatric patients 6-15 years of age. Only minor positive effects of coping on psychosocial adjustment were found: Religious coping reduced post-traumatic stress symptoms. Active coping strategies had negative effects on internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems. Support seeking strategies, distraction, and avoidance had no impact on long-term psychosocial adjustment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, CH-8032, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zehnder
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prchal
authors.forename: Margarete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vollrath
authors.forename: Markus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Landolt
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*