title: When seeking influences believing and promotes posttraumatic adaptation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Theory and evidence link social support processes and self-efficacy appraisals in the promotion of adaptation following traumatic events. Dynamic causal processes, however, have not been examined longitudinally or in the context of mass-violence. This study tested whether quantity of social support seeking indirectly reduced distress severity among student survivors of mass university shootings. Hypotheses specified that the indirect effects of social support seeking on distress severity would occur through positively influencing perceived social support and self-efficacy, and that these effects would emerge and become stronger as posttraumatic stress symptom severity increased.
  
  
  METHODS
  Path analysis via Mplus 7.2 was used to test the hypothesized moderated-serial-mediation model (conditional indirect effects).
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample (N=1191) consisted of students enrolled at Virginia Tech during the 16 April 2007 shootings. Data were collected via online surveys at two time points, 3-4 months and 1-year post-shootings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypotheses were supported, showing that the indirect effects of social support seeking on distress reduction occurred through perceived social support, which in turn influenced self-efficacy. These effects emerged and grew in strength as PTS severity increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical implications, including the need to consider contextual determinants of posttraumatic recovery, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Virginia Tech , 109 Williams Hall, Blacksburg , VA 24061 , USA.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Katharine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Donlon
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Russell T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D014768:Virginia; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: PTSD; collective trauma; mass shooting; resilience; school shooting; self efficacy; social support