Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Coping in the Time of COVID-19: A Longitudinal Assessment

Whitney M. Herge, Emily B. Gale, Emily J. Stapleton, Ashley Ofori, Kiley F. Poppino, Shelby P. Cerza and Daniel J. Sucato

SAGE Open, 2024, vol. 14, issue 1, 21582440231221323

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the rate of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) experienced by individuals in response to COVID-19; to identify which coping strategies individuals employed in response to the pandemic; and to understand the relationship between COVID-19 stress and PTSS over time. Adult participants were assessed at three timepoints over the course of approximately 8 months. Between 13% and 15% of participants endorsed high levels of PTSS at Time 1, indicative of likely PTSD. Participants endorsed using a variety of coping strategies with moderate frequency at Time 1, including self-distraction, active coping, positive reframing, planning, acceptance, and religion. Longitudinally, Time 1 COVID-19 stress was found to predict the development of Time 3 PTSS. This relationship was partially mediated by Time 2 behavioral disengagement. Additionally, acceptance was identified as a moderator of the relationship between Time 1 COVID-19 stress and Time 3 PTSS, in an unexpected direction.

Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic; PTSS; PTSD; coping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:sagope:v:14:y:2024:i:1:p:21582440231221323

DOI: 10.1177/21582440231221323

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