Coping strategies as mediators in relation to resilience and posttraumatic stress disorder

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Nicholas J. Thompson, Emory University; Devika Fiorillo, Emory University; Barbara O Rothbaum, Emory University; Kerry Ressler, Emory University; Vasiliki Michopoulos, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-01-01
• Publisher: Elsevier: 12 months
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2017 Elsevier B.V.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.049
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Affective Disorders
• ISSN: 0165-0327
• Volume: 225
• Start Page: 153
• End Page: 159
• Grant/Funding Information: The National Institutes of Health supported this work via MH094757 (KJR) and HD085850 (VM).
• Keywords: Clinical Neurology; CD-RISC; PTSD; Coping strategies; PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE; ADULTS; TRAIT RESILIENCE; Psychiatry; PTSD SYMPTOMS; PROLONGED EXPOSURE; Social withdrawal; Neurosciences & Neurology; Science & Technology; VICTIMS; METAANALYSIS; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; EVENTS; TRAUMA; RELIABILITY; Resilience
• Research Categories: Biology, Neuroscience; Psychology, Behavioral

Abstract

Background Resilience has been shown to protect against the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the aftermath of trauma. However, it remains unclear how coping strategies influence resilience and PTSD development in the acute aftermath of trauma. The current prospective, longitudinal study investigated the relationship between resilience, coping strategies, and the development of chronic PTSD symptoms. Methods A sample of patients was recruited from an emergency department following a Criterion A trauma. Follow-up assessments were completed at 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-trauma to assess PTSD symptom development (N = 164). RESULTS: Resilience at 1-month positively correlated with the majority of active coping strategies (all p <.05) and negatively correlated with the majority of avoidant coping strategies (all p <.05), as well as future PTSD symptoms (p <.001). Additionally, all avoidant coping strategies, including social withdrawal, positively correlated with future PTSD symptoms (all p <.01). After controlling for demographic and clinical variables, social withdrawal at 3-months fully mediated the relationship between resilience at 1-month and PTSD symptoms at 6-months. Limitations Limitations include participant drop out and the conceptual overlap between avoidant coping and PTSD. Conclusions These data suggest that resilience and social withdrawal may be possible therapeutic targets for mitigating the development of chronic PTSD in the aftermath of trauma.