title: Coping self-efficacy mediates the effects of negative cognitions on posttraumatic distress.
abstract: Although cognitive distortions have predicted posttraumatic distress after various types of traumatic events, the mechanisms through which cognitive distortions influence posttraumatic distress remain unclear. We hypothesized that coping self-efficacy, the belief in one's own ability to manage posttraumatic recovery demands, would operate as a mediator between negative cognitions (about self, about the world, and self-blame beliefs) and posttraumatic distress. In the cross-sectional Study 1, data collected among 66 adult female victims of child sexual abuse indicated that coping self-efficacy mediated the effects of negative cognitions about self and about the world on posttraumatic distress. The same pattern of results was found in a longitudinal Study 2, conducted among 70 survivors of motor vehicle accidents. Coping self-efficacy measured at 1 month after the trauma mediated the effects of 7-day negative cognitions about self and about the world on 3-month posttraumatic distress. In both studies self-blame was not related to posttraumatic distress and the effect of self-blame on posttraumatic distress was not mediated by coping self-efficacy. The results provide insight into a mechanism through which negative cognitions may affect posttraumatic distress and highlight the potential importance of interventions aimed at enhancing coping self-efficacy beliefs.
authors.affiliation: Trauma, Health, and Hazards Center, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, USA. rcieslak@uccs.edu
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cieslak
authors.forename: Charles C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Benight
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Caden Lehman
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009341:Negativism; D011594:Psychometrics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult