Citation

Salloum A, Lewis ML. Traumatology 2010; 16(1): 31-41.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Green Cross Academy of Traumatology, Publisher APA Journals)

DOI

10.1177/1534765609348240

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Research on children’s coping post hurricane is still in its infancy. A sociocultural perspective within a disaster-specific context provided the framework for this qualitative study. A systematic analysis using a theoretically derived coding system was conducted of the responses to open-ended questions about coping strategies post Hurricane Katrina of African American children (N = 42; ages 7 to 12) and their parents (N =38). Results indicated that both children and parents reported active coping strategies most frequently followed by adaptive coping strategies and avoidance. The subtypes of coping responses reported most frequently included emotionally processing with family and kinship members, distraction (play and work), seeking meaning and understanding (religious or spiritual guidance) and seeking social support and coping assistance. Implications for developing strengths-based, culturally relevant and developmentally specific post-disaster interventions for African American children and their parents are discussed, and the need for additional research on relational coping processes post-disaster.