The role of locus of control and coping style in predicting longitudinal PTSD-trajectories after combat exposure

Abstract

While longitudinal posttraumatic stress responses are known to be heterogeneous, little is known about predictors of those responses. We investigated if locus of control (LOC) and coping style are associated with long-term PTSD-trajectories after exposure to combat. Six hundred and seventy five Israeli soldiers with or without combat stress reaction (CSR) from the Lebanon war were assessed 1, 2, and 20 years after the war. Combat exposure, LOC, and coping style were then investigated as covariates of the trajectories of resilience, recovery, delayed onset, and chronicity. Symptomatic trajectories in the CSR and the non-CSR group were significantly associated to varying degrees with perceived life threat during combat (ORs: 1.76-2.53), internal LOC (0.77-0.87), emotional coping style (0.28-0.34), and low use of problem-focused coping (2.12-3.11). In conclusion, assessment of LOC and coping can aid prediction of chronic PTSD outcomes of combat exposure.

Predictors of recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder after the dongting lake flood in China: a 13–14 year follow-up study

“…Similar to their results, the present study found that coping style was significantly related to recovery from PTSD in flood survivors, and this is in support of the view that the ability to remain optimistic could be an effective way to cope with adverse events [37]. When faced with a trauma, individuals with a negative coping style were more likely to feel depressed, even hopeless [38,39], which could negatively impact their recovery from mental illnesses. With reference to previous studies, there have been contradictory results about the vulnerability of developing PTSD after traumatic events based on gender.…”

The association between locus of control, emotion regulation and borderline personality disorder features

“…This hypothesis aligns with evidence that a higher external LOC is associated with less engagement in effortful coping . This hypothesis is also consistent with prior research which demonstrated associations between LOC and disorders such as depression and PTSD, suggesting that external LOC may be a vulnerability factor for disorders related to affect regulation.…”

“…chance, fate or powerful others). Previous research has demonstrated an association between external LOC and psychopathology, including heightened symptoms of depression, PTSD, workplace burnout and suicidality . Moreover, external LOC may confer risk for future psychopathology, with external LOC decreasing odds of recovering from PTSD in soldiers following combat trauma …”

Locus of control, optimism, and recollections of depression and self‐reported cognitive functioning following treatment for colorectal cancer

“…17 Higher internal LOC (LOC-I) has been associated with lower post-traumatic stress disorders in military personnel, independent from coping styles. 18 Lower LOC-I has been associated with poorer coping with pain. 19 Marks, Richardson, Graham, and Levine 20 reported LOC-I and optimistic attitude towards the cancer experience reduced relationship between cancer severity and depression, also noting a direct relationship between external LOC and depression among cancer patients.…”