title: Racial/ethnic differences moderate associations of coping strategies and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom clusters among women experiencing partner violence: a multigroup path analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Past research underscores the key role of coping strategies in the development, maintenance, and exacerbation of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The goal of the current study was to extend existing literature by examining whether race/ethnicity moderates the relations among coping strategies (social support, problem-solving, avoidance) and PTSD symptom clusters (intrusion, avoidance, numbing, arousal).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 369 community women (134 African Americans, 131 Latinas, 104 Whites) who reported bidirectional aggression with a current male partner. Multigroup path analysis was utilized to test the moderating role of race/ethnicity in a model linking coping strategies to PTSD symptom clusters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The strength and direction of relations among coping strategies and PTSD symptom clusters varied as a function of race/ethnicity. Greater social support coping was related to more arousal symptoms for Latinas and Whites. Greater problem-solving coping was related to fewer arousal symptoms for Latinas. Greater avoidance coping was related to more symptoms across many of the PTSD clusters for African Americans, Latinas, and Whites, however, these relations were strongest for African Americans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results provide support for the moderating role of race/ethnicity in the relations among coping strategies and PTSD symptom clusters, and highlight potential targets for culturally informed PTSD treatments.
authors: a Department of Psychiatry , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA.
authors: Nicole H
authors: NH
authors: Weiss
authors: a Department of Psychiatry , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA.
authors: Clinesha D
authors: CD
authors: Johnson
authors: b Boston VA Research Institute , Jamaica Plain , MA , USA.
authors: Ateka
authors: A
authors: Contractor
authors: c Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS , Yale University School of Public Health , New Haven , CT , USA.
authors: Courtney
authors: C
authors: Peasant
authors: d Department of Psychology , University of South Carolina , Columbia , SC , USA.
authors: Suzanne C
authors: SC
authors: Swan
authors: a Department of Psychiatry , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA.
authors: Tami P
authors: TP
authors: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Posttraumatic stress disorder; coping; intimate partner violence; racial and ethnic differences; women