title: The Prospective Role of Cognitive Appraisals and Social Support in Predicting Children's Posttraumatic Stress.
abstract: Although both social support and cognitive appraisals are strong predictors of children's posttraumatic adjustment, understanding of the interplay between these factors is limited. We assessed whether cognitive appraisals mediated the relationship between social support and symptom development, as predicted by cognitive models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ninety seven children (Mean age = 12.08 years) were assessed at one month and six months following a single incident trauma. We administered self-report measures of cognitive appraisals, social support, and a diagnostic interview for PTSD. Results indicated that cognitive appraisals at one month post-trauma mediated the relationship between social support at one month post-trauma, and PTSD severity at follow-up. Differences in this relationship were observed between child-reported social support and parent-rated ability to provide support. Firm evidence was provided for the application of cognitive models of PTSD to children.
authors.affiliation: MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK. Caitlin.hitchcock@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk.|School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia. Caitlin.hitchcock@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2435-0713
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hitchcock
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.
authors.forename: Alicia A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia. Reg.nixon@flinders.edu.au.
authors.forename: Reginald D V
authors.initials: RDV
authors.lastname: Nixon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Children; Cognitive appraisals; PTSD; Social support