[Differences in coping strategies of preadolescents with and without exposure to the L'Aquila (Central Italy) 2009 earthquake].
OBJECTIVE
to assess the presence of a characteristic coping strategy profile in a wide sample of preadolescents following a traumatic exposure (i.e., L'Aquila earthquake).


METHODS
we have investigated the coping strategies through the Brief-Cope Coping Orientation towards Problems Experienced - new Italian version (COPE-NVI) devised to measure coping strategies on five levels: problem-oriented coping strategies, avoidance strategies, social-support strategies, positive attitude, transcendent orientation.


METHODS
129 preadolescents exposed (75 females and 54 males) and 107 non-exposed to the trauma (54 females and 53 males), age-ranged 11-14 years, coming from L'Aquila and from another Italian region far away from the epicentre of the earthquake. The trauma exposure was assessed through a checklist considering the presence of negative factors such as death of relatives and friends and displacement from home. Participants were tested collectively at school during school time in accordance with their teacher. An exclusion criterion was the presence of psychic disorders following or preceding the trauma.


METHODS
the need to develop a diagnostic protocol including coping measures aim to planning preventive actions for avoiding post-traumatic diseases.


RESULTS
the trauma exposure without consequent psychiatric disorders causes a high heterogeneity within coping dimensions, such phenomenon does not happen in the non-exposed group. Coping strategies are not affected by age and gender, but only by the exposure to the trauma. Furthermore, death of relatives/friends and displacements from home predict the use of specific coping strategies (i.e., social-support strategies and transcendent orientation).


CONCLUSIONS
coping is a dynamic process of adjustment to critical events that requires to direct cognitive and behavioural resources. The trauma exposure modifies coping strategies and dimensions. This study shows the importance to use coping tools for helping people in using positive and active resource of coping.
Dipartimento di medicina interna, sanità pubblica, scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila. laura.piccardi@cc.univaq.it.
Laura
L
Piccardi
Dipartimento di medicina interna, sanità pubblica, scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila.
Assunta
A
Marano
Psicologa, psicoterapeuta. L'Aquila.
Maria Angela
MA
Geraci
Servizio di tutela salute mentale e riabilitazione in età evolutiva, ASL1 Avezzano-Sulmona-L'Aquila, Regione Abruzzo, L'Aquila.
Emanuele
E
Legge
Dipartimento di medicina interna, sanità pubblica, scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila.
Simonetta
S
D'Amico
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data