An Investigation into Trauma, Active Coping and Depression

In this research, the relationship between post-traumatic stress symptomology and depression, time of trauma (childhood or adulthood), type of trauma (sexual, physical or emotional), and current active coping level were investigated.  Participants completed online versions of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, Coping Self-Efficacy Scale and questions related to time and type of trauma. Multiple regression revealed active coping and post-traumatic stress symptomology were significant predictors of depressive symptomology, accounting for around half of the variance. No significant main or interaction effects were found between time and type of trauma and depressive symptomology. It was concluded that trauma symptomology and active coping may be useful when identifying those most at risk of developing depressive symptomology.