Coping and psychological distress in children involved in road traffic accidents

Objective. The purpose of this study is to detail the natural coping strate gies used by children involved in everyday road traffic accidents (RTAs). T he relationship between coping strategies, post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD), gender and age was investigated. Design. Children aged 7-18 who attended an accident and emergency departmen t following involvement in a RTA were assessed, G weeks after their acciden t (N = 97). A subgroup of 36 children were re-assessed approximately 8 mont hs after the trauma. Methods. The presence of PTSD was determined via a semi-structured intervie w incorporating the Clinician Administered post-traumatic Scale for Childre n (CAPS-C). Self-completed psychometric assessments were undertaken to asse ss the presence of clinically significant levels of depression (Birleson De pression Inventory), anxiety (Revised Manifest Anxiety Scale) and coping st yle (Kidcope). Results. Children involved in RTAs used between 5 and 7 different coping st rategies. Younger children and those with PTSD used more strategies than ol der children and those not suffering from PTSD. Children with PTSD were mor e likely to use the strategies of distraction, social withdrawal, emotional regulation and blaming others. Conclusion. The limitations of Kidcope are discussed and the need to develo p more complex ways of assessing childhood coping within a developmental fr amework highlighted.