Racial/ethnic differences moderate associations of coping strategies and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom clusters among women experiencing partner violence: a multigroup path analysis

Abstract

Background Past research underscores the key role of coping strategies in the development, maintenance, and exacerbation of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The goal of the current study was to extend existing literature by examining whether race/ethnicity moderates the relations among coping strategies (social support, problem-solving, avoidance) and PTSD symptom clusters (intrusion, avoidance, numbing, arousal). Methods Participants were 369 community women (134 African Americans, 131 Latinas, 104 Whites) who reported bidirectional aggression with a current male partner. Multigroup path analysis was utilized to test the moderating role of race/ethnicity in a model linking coping strategies to PTSD symptom clusters. Results The strength and direction of relations among coping strategies and PTSD symptom clusters varied as a function of race/ethnicity. Greater social support coping was related to more arousal symptoms for Latinas and Whites. Greater problem-solving coping was related to fewer arousal symptoms for Latinas. Greater avoidance coping was related to more symptoms across many of the PTSD clusters for African Americans, Latinas, and Whites, however, these relations were strongest for African Americans. Conclusion Results provide support for the moderating role of race/ethnicity in the relations among coping strategies and PTSD symptom clusters, and highlight potential targets for culturally-informed PTSD treatments.

Stress and Coping Strategies in Women With and Without Intimate-Partner Violence Experiences

“…Several studies reveal that women with IPV experiences are more likely to report physical and emotional symptom of stress (Ziaei et al 2016;Wiess et al 2017). The results of Weiss et al (2017) study among women experiencing partner violence demonstrate that greater avoidance coping is related to more symptoms of PTSD in American women. Rashti and Golshokouh (2010) reported significant correlation between physicalpsychological and sexual violence with PTSD among married women.…”

The Relationship between Personality Dimensions, Spirituality, Coping Strategies and Clinical Clerkship Satisfaction among Intern Nursing Students: A Cross-sectional Study

“…In order to be more confident in the findings of this study, especially regarding limited studies on the role of spirituality in clinical setting and the spiritual needs of nursing students, more similar studies should be conducted. Given spirituality [58] and coping strategies [59] are to some extent dependent on ethnicity, the generalizations of the research findings to other ethnic groups should be carried out with caution and it is suggested that similar studies are conducted in other ethnic groups. This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the factors predicting clinical clerkship satisfaction, it is suggested further studies utilized longitudinal method to assess these factors.…”

Exploring the mediating role of self‐blame and coping in the relationships between self‐compassion and distress in females following the sexual assault

“…For example, research suggests that among Asian Americans the link between disengagement coping and distress may not be as strong as it is for White Americans (Chang, ). Other research has shown that the positive association between avoidance coping and PTSD is particularly strong for African American women, as compared with White and Latina women (Weiss et al, ).…”