"Approach" and "avoidance" coping and PTSD symptoms in inner-city youth

This study examined the function of approach and avoidant coping on the rel ations between exposure to violence and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTS D) symptoms. The sample included seventy African-American, inner-city child ren (ages eleven to fourteen). Tests of moderating effects investigated the mechanism of two avoidant coping strategies, cognitive distraction and beh avioral avoidance. Cognitive distraction was found to moderate the level of violence exposure such that, as violence increased, the use of cognitive d istraction was related to an increased frequency of cognitive arousal. Beha vioral avoidance moderated violence such that, under higher exposure to vio lence, the lowered use of behavioral avoidance was related to an increased frequency of behavioral arousal. Tests of moderating effects examined the f unction of two approach strategies, problem-solving and social support. Nei ther strategy showed significant effects. This study provided a first-step in the examination of coping within inner-city children.