Skip to main content
Log in

Post-traumatic stress disorder and coping after a natural disaster

  • Published:
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

This study examines the role of coping in the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a nonpatient population following exposure to a natural disaster. In contrast to other studies, the use of all coping strategies was found to be associated with the presence of PTSD rather than the absence of symptoms. These data suggest that coping (in this sense) represents a psychological process used to contain the distress caused by symptoms as well as to manage environmental adversity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baum A, Fleming R, Singer J (1983) Coping with technological disaster. J Soc Issues 39: 117–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Brett E, Ostroff R (1985) Imagery and posttraumatic stress disorder. Am J Psychiatry 142: 417–424

    Google Scholar 

  • Brett E, Spitzer R, Williams J (1988) DSM-III-R criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder. Am J Psychiatry 145: 1232–1236

    Google Scholar 

  • Caplan G (1981) Mastery of stress: psychosocial aspects. Am J Psychiatry 138: 413–420

    Google Scholar 

  • Coyne J, Aldwin C, Lazarus R (1981) Depression and coping in stressful episodes. J Abnorm Psychol 90: 439–447

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards J, Cooper C (1988) Research in stress, coping and health: theoretical and methodological issues. Psychol Med 18: 15–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Folkman S, Lazarus R (1980) An analysis of coping in a middle aged community sample. J Health Soc Behav 21: 219–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Folkman S, Lazarus R (1985) If it changes it must be a process: study of emotion and coping during three stages of a college examination. J Pers Soc Psychol 48: 150–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Folkman S, Lazarus R (1988) Coping as a mediator of emotion. J Pers Soc Psychol 54: 466–475

    Google Scholar 

  • Heim E (1991) Coping and adaptation in cancer. In: Cooper C, Watson M (eds) Cancer and stress: psychological, biological and coping studies. Wiley, New York, pp 197–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Heim E, Augustiny K, Blaser A, Bürki C, Kühne D, Rothenbüler M, Schaffner L, Valach L (1987) Coping with breast cancer-a longitudinal prospective study. Psychother Psychosom 48: 44–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobbs M (1984) Crisis intervention in theory and practice: a selective review. Br J Med Psychol 57: 23–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz M (1986) Stress response syndromes: a review of posttraumatic and adjustment disorders. Hosp Community Psychiatry 37: 241–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz M, Schaffer C, Hiroto D, Wilner N, Lewin B (1977) Life event questionnaires for measuring presumptive stress. Psychosom Med 39: 413–431

    Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz M, Wilner N, Alvarez W (1979) Impact of event scale: a measure of subjective distress. Psychosom Med 41: 209–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasl S (1983) Pursuing the link between stressful life experiences and disease: a time for reappraisal. In: Cooper C (ed) Stress research: issues for the eighties. Wiley, New York, pp 79–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendler KS, Kessler RC, Heath AC, Neale MC, Eaves LJ (1991) Coping: a genetic epidemiological investigation. Psychol Med 21: 337–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolb L (1987) A neuropsychological hypothesis explaining posttraumatic stress disorders. Am J Psychiatry 144: 989–995

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus R (1981) The stress and coping paradigm. In: Cohen D, Kleinman A, Maxims P (eds) Models for clinical psychopathology. Spectrum, New York, pp 177–214

    Google Scholar 

  • McCammon S, Durham J, Allison E Jr, Williamson J (1988) Emergency workers' cognitive appraisal and coping with traumatic events. Traum Stress 1: 353–372

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane A (1985) The effects of stressful life events and disasters: research and theoretical issues. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 19: 409–421

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane A (1986) Posttraumatic morbidity of a disaster: a study of cases presenting for psychiatric treatment. J Nerv Ment Dis 174: 4–14

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane A (1987) Life events and psychiatric disorder: the role of a natural disaster. Br J Psychiatry 151: 362–367

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane A (1988) The longitudinal course of posttraumatic morbidity: the range of outcomes and their predictors. J Nerv Ment Dis 176: 764–769

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane A (1989) The aetiology of posttraumatic morbidity: predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors. Br J Psychiatry 154: 221–225

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane A (1992) Avoidance and intrusion in posttraumatic stress disorder. J Nerv Ment Dis 180: 439–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy S (1986) Stress, coping, and mental health outcomes following a natural disaster: bereaved family members and friends compared. Death Studies 10: 411–429

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkes KR (1986) Coping in stressful episodes: the role of individual differences, environmental factors, and situational characteristics. J Pers Soc Psychol 51: 1277–1292

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearlin H, Schooler C (1978) The structure of coping. J Health Soc Behav 19: 2–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhode P, Lewinsohn PM, Tilson M, Seeley JR (1990) Dimensionality of coping and its relation to depression. J Pers Soc Psychol 58: 499–511

    Google Scholar 

  • Robins L, Helzer J, Croughan I, Ratcliff K (1981) National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Its history, characteristics and validity. Arch Gen Psychiatry 38: 381–384

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon Z, Mikulincer M (1988) Attributional style and combat related posttraumatic stress disorder. J Abnorm Psychol 97: 308–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon Z, Mikulincer M, Avitzur E (1988) Coping, locus of control, social support and combat related posttraumatic stress disorder: a prospective study. J Pers Soc Psychol 55: 279–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon Z, Mikulincer M, Benbenishty R (1989) Locus of control and combat related posttraumatic stress disorder: the intervening role of battle intensity, threat appraisal and coping. Br J Clin Psychol 28: 131–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart M (1986) A study of the needs, coping styles and use of medical services of tornado victims. Can J Public Health 77: 173–179

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Spurrell, M.T., McFarlane, A.C. Post-traumatic stress disorder and coping after a natural disaster. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 28, 194–200 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00797323

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00797323

Keywords

Navigation