Children's Coping Assistance: How Parents, Teachers, and Friends Help Children Cope After a Natural Disaster

Abstract

Examined the construct of coping assistance, defined as actions taken by significant others to help children cope with stressful events, in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. The Children's Coping Assistance Checklist (CCAC) was developed to assess 3 types of coping assistance (Emotional Processing, Roles and Routines, and Distraction) from 3 sources (Parents, Teachers, and Friends). The CCAC and measures of children's social support, coping, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology were administered to 506 3rd-5th graders 7 mo after Hurricane Andrew. Roles and Routines coping assistance was reported most frequently, followed by Distraction and Emotional Processing. Coping assistance from parents and friends was reported more frequently than from teachers. Third graders reported significantly more Emotional Processing from parents and friends than did 4th or 5th graders. As expected, children with more severe levels of PTSD symptomatology reported more Emotional Processing and Distraction coping assistance. Findings suggest that coping assistance is an important construct for understanding children's reactions to natural disasters. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)