International Journal of Academic Research in Psychology

search-icon

Relationship among Maltreatment Factors, PTSD Symptoms and Coping Strategies

Open access
There are hoisted rates of infancy abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in abused females of shelter homes and old age homes. The current research intends to investigate the association among maltreatment factors, PTSD symptomatology and coping strategies. A survey research design was used in the study. The sample consisted of 150 participants, selected through purposive sampling technique.
Childhood trauma questionnaire (Bernstein & Fink 1998), Davidson trauma scales (Davidson, 2003) and Brief cope scale (Carver, 1997) was used to assess the maltreatment factors, PTSD symptoms and coping strategies respectively. Descriptive statistics, correlation, One way ANOVA and Independent sample t-test were used to examine the data.
Results recommended significant relationship among maltreatment factors and PTSD symptomatology. Findings demonstrated a positive correlation between coping strategies and maltreatment factors. Results also indicated significant differences in relation to marital status, qualification, residence, area, and organizations. These findings postulated that childhood maltreatment is associated with the psychological disorder of PTSD symptomatology of re – experiencing, avoidance or numbness and hyper-arousal and the maltreated women must use coping strategies after the abusive and neglected behavior. Findings suggest that child maltreatment is a predisposing feature for undesirable health effects in subsequent life and that coping strategies are critical components in this relationship. Suggestions for clinicians, medicinal experts, and specialists are examined.
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychology Publishing.
American Psychological Association Committee on professional practice and standards. (1998). Guidelines for psychological evaluation in child protection matters.
Brewin, C. R., Andrews, B., & Valentine, J. D. (2000). Meta-analysis of risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed adults.
Bernstein, D. P., & Fink, L. (1998). Childhood Trauma Questionnaire: A retrospective self-report. San Antonio, TX: Harcourt, Brace, and Company.
Carver, C. S. (1997). The Brief COP [measurement scale]. International journal of Behavioural Medicine, 4, 92- 100.
Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (1981). Attention and self-regulation: A control theory approach to human behavior. New York: Springer-Verlag.
Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., & Weintraub, J. K. (1989). Assessing coping strategies: A theoretically based approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 267-283.
Dunn, E. S. (2009). Childhood maltreatment and adult post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology in abused, suicidal, low-income, African American women.
Davidson, J. (2003). Davidson Trauma Scale. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems Inc.
Dunn, M. G., Tarter, R. E., Mezzich, A. C., Vanyukov, M., Kirisci, L., & Kirillova, (2002). G. Origins and consequences of child neglect in substance abuse families. Clinical Psychology Review. 22, 1063–1090.
Dakof, G. A., & Taylor, S. E. (1990). Victim’s perceptions of social support: What is helpful from whom? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 80-89.
Ehlers, A., & Clark. (1999). PTSD symptoms, response to intrusive memories, and coping in ambulance service workers. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 38, 251-265.
Folkman, S., & Lazarus, R. S. (1980). If it changes it must be a process: The study of emotion and coping during three stages of a college examination. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48, 150-170.
Folkman, S., Lazarus, R. S., Dunkel-Schetter, C., DeLongis, A., & Gruen, R. J. (1986). The dynamics of a stressful encounter: Cognitive appraisal, coping, and encounter outcomes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 992-1003.
Folkman, S., & Moskowitz, J. T. (2004). Coping: Pitfalls and promise. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 745-774.
Foster, A. (2014). Traumatic life events and symptoms of anxiety: Moderating effects of adaptive Versus maladaptive coping strategies. Electronic Theses and Dissertations, Paper 2380. Retrieved from http://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2380.
Fortier, A. M., DiLillo, D., Messman-Moore, L. T., Peugh. J., DeNardi, A. K., and Gaffey, J. K. (2009). Severity of Child Sexual Abuse and Revictimization: The Mediating Role of Coping and Trauma Symptoms. (2009). Published in Psychology of Women Quarterly 33:3 (2009), pp. 308–320. Retrieved from DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln:
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub/400.
Gall, T. L. (2006). Spirituality and coping with life stress among adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Child Abuse and Neglect. 30, 829–844.
Higgins, D. J. (2004). The importance of degree versus the type of maltreatment: A cluster analysis of child abuse types. Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, 138, 303–324
Hobfoll, S. E. (1989). Conservation of resources: A new attempt at conceptualizing stress. American Psychologist, 44 (3), 513-524.
Hagger, D. A., Alanna, B. A. (2006). An Investigation of the Perceived Stress, Coping Strategies, and Physical Health of Childhood Maltreatment Survivors. McGill University,
https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/bitstream/handle/1828/2021.
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1987). Transactional theory and research on emotions and coping. European Journal of Personality, 1, 141-169.
Moos, R. H., & Holahan, C. J. (2003). Dispositional and contextual perspectives on coping: Towards an integrative framework. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 59, 1387-1403.
Moos, R., H., & Schaefer, J. A. (1993). Coping resources and processes: Current concepts and measures.
National Children Advocacy Center. (2013). The relationship between child maltreatment and academic achievement. Retrieved from
http://mha.ohio.gov/Portals/0/assets/Initiatives/TIC/ChildrenYouthAdolescents.
National Research Council. (1993). Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Park, C. L., & Folkman, S. (1997). Meaning in the context of stress and coping. Review of General Psychology, 1, 115-144.
Pearlin, L. L., & Schooler, C. (1978). The structure of coping. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 19, 2-21. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 216-269.
Runtz. & Schallow. (1997). Social support and coping strategies as mediators of adult adjustment following childhood maltreatment. Journal of Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 21, Pages 211–226.
Rippetoe, P. A., & Rogers, R. W. (1987). Effects of components of protective-motivation theory on adaptive and maladaptive coping with a health threat. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 596-604.
Schaaf, K. K., & McCanne, T. R. (1998). Relationship of childhood sexual, physical, and combined sexual and physical abuse to adult victimization and posttraumatic stress disorder. Child Abuse and Neglect, 22, 1119-1113.
Stephens, C. V., & Long, N. (1999). Posttraumatic stress disorder in the New Zealand police: The moderating role of social support following traumatic stress. Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 12, 247-265.
Schumacher, J. A., Slep, S. A. M., & Heyman, R. E. (2001). Risk factors for child neglect. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 6, 231-254.
Tami, P. Sullivan., Katharine, J. Meese., Suzanne, C. Swan., Carolyn, M. Mazure., and David, L. Snow. (1995). Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, A. O. C., Youth, and Families. (2005). Child maltreatment (2005). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2002). Child maltreatment 2002: Reports from the states to the national child abuse and neglect data system. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Administration on Children, Youth, & Families. (2008). Child maltreatment. (2006). Washington DC: Government Printing Office.
Widom, C. S. (1999). Posttraumatic stress disorder in abused and neglected children grown up. American Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 1223-1229.
Walsh, K., Fortier, M. A., and Dilillo, D. (2009). Adult coping with childhood sexual abuse: A theoretical and empirical review. Faculty Publication, Department of Psychology. Paper 396. http://digital commons.unl.edu/psychfacpub/396.
In-Text Citation: (Sabir & Irfan, 2015)
To Cite this Article: Sabir, A., & Irfan, S. (2015). Relationship among Maltreatment Factors, PTSD Symptoms and Coping Strategies. International Journal of Academic Research in Psychology. 2(1), 63-81.