TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - The role of youth coping strategies and caregiver psychopathology in predicting post-traumatic stress symptoms in pediatric burn survivors
JO  - Journal of burn care and research
A1  - Enlow, Paul T.
A1  - Brown Kirschman, Keri J.
A1  - Mentrikoski, Janelle
A1  - Szabo, Margo M.
A1  - Butz, Catherine
A1  - Aballay, Ariel M.
A1  - Duncan, Christina L.
SP  - 620
EP  - 626
VL  - 40
IS  - 5
N2  - Caregiver psychosocial functioning is repeatedly linked with post-burn adjustment in pediatric burn survivors. However, few studies have examined youth characteristics as predictors, such as coping strategies. Furthermore, research has not explored how caregiver psychopathology and youth coping strategies interact to predict youth post-burn adjustment. The aim of this study was to examine how youth coping strategies and caregiver anxiety and depression predict youth post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Forty-six youth between 7 and 17 years old (M = 12.5, SD = 2.65) and their caregivers were recruited from two U.S. burn centers. Youth and parents completed questionnaires that assessed demographics, caregiver anxiety and depression, youth self-reports of coping strategies, and youth PTSS. Burn injury data (e.g., TBSA, time since injury) was obtained from medical record reviews. Hierarchical regressions were conducted with caregiver psychopathology (depression, anxiety), youth coping strategies (active, avoidant, distraction, social support), and the interaction between caregiver psychopathology and youth coping strategies as predictors and youth PTSS as the outcome variable. Higher levels of caregiver anxiety (β's =.36 to.42) and avoidance coping (β's =.38 to.43) were associated with more PTSS. Caregiver anxiety and depression moderated the association between youth use of distraction coping and youth PTSS. These findings reinforce the importance of assessing psychosocial functioning in pediatric burn survivors and their caregivers, and providing interventions to promote better psychosocial outcomes. Coping strategies may help reduce PTSS and buffer against the harmful influence of caregiver psychopathology. Future research may wish to pilot interventions that promote healthy coping.<br><br>© American Burn Association 2019. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1559-047X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jbcr/irz067
ID  - ref1
ER  -