Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026
07:56
Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Coping style, personality and adolescent adjustment 10 years post-burn
J M Liber1, A W Faber, Ph D A Treffers
1Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Curium, Leiden, Endegeesterstraatweg 27, Oegstgeest, Netherlands. J.M.Liber@Curium.nl
Summary
Adolescents with severe childhood burns showed similar problem behaviors and lower depression than peers. They reported better emotional stability and coping, suggesting resilience factors warrant further study.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Pediatrics
- Burn Rehabilitation
Background:
- Severe burns in childhood can have long-term psychological impacts.
- Understanding adolescent adjustment after early childhood trauma is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess long-term behavioral and emotional outcomes in adolescents who experienced severe burns in early childhood.
- To identify personality traits and coping mechanisms associated with adjustment.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of adolescents (aged 11-18) with a history of severe childhood burns (10-11 years prior) was assessed.
- Self-report measures were used to evaluate problem behavior, depression, personality traits, and coping styles.
- Regression analyses were conducted to explore relationships between variables.
Main Results:
- Adolescents reported similar levels of problem behavior and lower levels of depression compared to reference populations.
- Higher levels of emotional stability, agreeableness, and extraversion were reported.
- Lower levels of passive coping were observed.
- Poorer emotional stability, agreeableness, and greater passive coping were linked to increased behavioral problems and depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents with a history of severe childhood burns demonstrate notable psychological resilience.
- Specific personality traits and adaptive coping strategies appear protective.
- Future research should explore resilience factors and individual differences within this population.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Coping Strategies: Problem Focused
Coping strategies are methods people use to manage, tolerate, or reduce the effects of stressors. These strategies involve both behavioral and psychological actions to handle stressful situations. One common approach is problem-focused coping, which aims to change or eliminate the source of stress rather than merely addressing its consequences. This method involves taking direct action to resolve the issue causing stress.
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
01:20Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused
Emotion-focused coping refers to a set of strategies aimed at managing the emotional impact of stressors, rather than directly addressing their causes. This approach involves altering one's emotional response to stressful situations to reduce their psychological effects. For example, individuals might talk with a friend or engage in activities like journaling to express their feelings. Such actions can help achieve emotional clarity or release, providing the psychological stability needed to...
01:24Attachment Styles
Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about the way you...
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...