Symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder in adolescent females following Hurricane Katrina: Coping as a moderator
Description
The purpose of the present study was to examine the impact of approach and avoidant coping strategies on the relation between exposure to Hurricane Katrina-related trauma (defined as either degree of exposure or subsequent disruption) and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition, the differential importance of these coping strategies based on developmental level was also examined. Participants included 690 predominantly Caucasian females in grades eight through twelve at a private school in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Regression analyses indicated that high approach coping served as a protective-stabilizing factor for younger adolescents but as a risk factor for older adolescents exposed to hurricane-related trauma. For younger adolescents, low avoidance coping appeared to be more adaptive and was related to less PTSD symptoms, while higher avoidance coping appeared to be a risk factor related to higher PTSD symptoms (although less so at higher levels of trauma exposure). For older adolescents, low avoidance coping served as a protective factor while high avoidance coping served as a significant risk factor for PTSD symptoms. With regard to trauma disruption which followed Hurricane Katrina, for younger adolescents low avoidance coping seemed to be a protective factor while high avoidance coping appeared to be a risk factor for PTSD symptoms. Finally, for older adolescents, both high and low avoidance coping was related to increasing PTSD symptoms, however lower avoidance coping was related to fewer PTSD symptoms. Overall, findings revealed that the impact and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina posed a significant risk factor for PTSD symptoms for those affected by this disaster. In addition, various coping mechanisms appeared to function differently depending upon the age of the participant in impacting the relation between trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms