Patterns of avoidant coping in individuals with early childhood exposure to trauma

Studies have found that children exposed to trauma experience significant behavioral and affective repercussions. Individuals with histories of such exposure have been found to evidence disruptions of development, physiology and in some cases, brain structure. Research has suggested that exposure to trauma before age five may be particularly detrimental to the developmental process. The present study examined avoidant coping strategies utilized by 142 adults who had experienced trauma either prior to or after age five. Significant correlations were found between exposure to trauma prior to age five and increased utilization of the coping strategy of emotional discharge in response to stressors. This remained significant when men and women were considered as independent groups. In women, exposure to trauma prior to age five was also found to significantly correlate with a tendency to respond to future stressors with the coping strategy of cognitive avoidance. Differences were also noted in how men and women who experienced trauma in adulthood utilize coping strategies, with women being more likely than men to utilize the avoidant coping strategies of acceptance or resignation and emotional discharge.