title: Post-trauma symptoms following indirect exposure to the September 11th terrorist attacks: the predictive role of dispositional coping.
abstract: Few data prospectively address the role of coping in the development of PTSD. In the present study, 308 undergraduates were assessed for coping prior to the 9/11 WTC attack and for PTSD symptomatology at one and three-months post-9/11. Multiple regression analyses indicated that emotion-focused coping was predictive of increased symptomatology at Month 1 and Month 3, whereas problem-focused and avoidance-focused coping were not. Specifically, analyses predicting PTSD symptom factors (Intrusions, Avoidance, Dysphoria, and Hyperarousal) indicated that greater emotion-focused coping predicted increased Dysphoria symptoms at both time points and, among females, increased levels of Hyperarousal symptoms at Month 1. The role of coping style in the development of PTSD symptomatology and its clinical implications are discussed.
authors: University at Buffalo, Department of Psychology, NY, USA. jsbgsh@rit.edu
authors: Joseph S
authors: JS
authors: Baschnagel
authors: Berglind
authors: B
authors: Gudmundsdottir
authors: Larry W
authors: LW
authors: Hawk
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Gayle Beck
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001143:Arousal; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D013694:Temperament; D055815:Young Adult