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Community violence exposure is associated with increased depressive symptoms in adolescents. This study examined whether coping style moderates this relationship over time. Eighty-four low-income, urban adolescents (M[subscript age] = 13.36, 50% female, 95% African American) participated in two waves of a longitudinal study. Youth reported on their community violence exposure and coping style at Wave 1, and their depressive symptoms at Waves 1 and 2 (17 months apart). Problem-focused coping attenuated the effect of community violence exposure on depressive symptoms ([beta] = -0.47, p < 0.05), whereas avoidant coping amplified the effect of community violence on depressive symptoms ([beta] = 0.63, p < 0.05). Adolescents exposed to community violence are at an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms if they use low levels of problem-focused coping or high levels of avoidant coping. Interventions targeting coping strategies may improve psychological adjustment of urban youth exposed to community violence.

Community violence exposure is associated with externalizing problems in adolescents, yet little research has examined the moderating role of coping in these relationships. Eighty-four low-income, urban adolescents (M[subscript age] = 13.36, 50% male, 95% African American) participated in two waves of a longitudinal study a year and a half apart. Youth reported their community violence exposure and coping styles at Wave 1, and their delinquent behavior, physical aggression, and substance use at Waves 1 and 2. Conduct problems were assessed by parent-report at Waves 1 and 2. Results showed that avoidant coping predicted less delinquency, aggression, substance use, and conduct problems over time. Further, avoidant coping attenuated the effect of community violence on delinquency. Problem-focused and emotion-focused coping did not moderate community violence exposure effects. Findings suggest that among low-income, minority urban youth, avoidant coping may protect against the development of externalizing problems in the context of community violence exposure.

Community violence exposure is associated with increased depressive symptoms in adolescents. This study examined whether coping style moderates this relationship over time. Eighty-four low-income, urban adolescents (M age = 13.36, 50% female, 95% African American) participated in two waves of a longitudinal study. Youth reported on their community violence exposure and coping style at Wave 1, and their depressive symptoms at Waves 1 and 2 (17 months apart). Problem-focused coping attenuated the effect of community violence exposure on depressive symptoms (β = −.47, p <.05), whereas avoidant coping amplified the effect of community violence on depressive symptoms (β =.63, p <.05). Adolescents exposed to community violence are at an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms if they use low levels of problem-focused coping or high levels of avoidant coping. Interventions targeting coping strategies may improve psychological adjustment of urban youth exposed to community violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of religious coping (RC) in psychosocial outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults with cystic fibrosis has not been addressed. Multivariate regressions evaluated the effects of baseline RC on depressive and anxiety symptoms and HRQoL at 3-month follow-up in 123 adult cystic fibrosis patients. Higher positive RC attenuated the effects of perceived stress on greater depressive and anxiety symptoms. Negative RC predicted less vitality and social HRQoL, as well as more digestion symptoms. Positive RC may buffer the impact of stress on patients' psychological distress, whereas negative RC may contribute to lower health-related quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community violence exposure is associated with externalizing problems in adolescents, yet little research has examined the moderating role of coping in these relationships. Eighty-four low-income, urban adolescents (Mage = 13.36, 50%male, 95%African American) participated in two waves of a longitudinal study a year and a half apart. Youth reported their community violence exposure and coping styles at Wave 1, and their delinquent behavior, physical aggression, and substance use at Waves 1 and 2. Conduct problems were assessed by parent-report at Waves 1 and 2. Results showed that avoidant coping predicted less delinquency, aggression, substance use, and conduct problems over time. Further, avoidant coping attenuated the effect of community violence on delinquency. Problem-focused and emotion-focused coping did not moderate community violence exposure effects. Findings suggest that among low-income, minority urban youth, avoidant coping may protect against the development of externalizing problems in the context of community violence exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Exercise maximum flexibility in scheduling to optimize data collection. • Secure a variety of contact methods to support successful communication. • Study eligibility requirements should be well thought out and clearly defined. • Driving exposure should be measured frequently to explain changes in driving behaviors. Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are the leading cause of mortality among teenagers. Teen driving research has a longstanding history; however, much of this work is cross-sectional. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development funded a study, REACT (R oadway E xperiences and A ttentional C hange in T eens) which combined factorial and longitudinal designs to investigate the independent and joint effects of age and driving experience on driving attention over time among young drivers. Longitudinal methods offer important contributions to teen driving research by enabling characterization of driving trajectories. This paper describes methodological considerations for longitudinal studies of teen drivers. Such considerations are organized into overarching themes, including population, recruitment, enrollment, and retention, throughout this paper. These considerations were compiled as a combination of our own experiences in REACT and previous literature. We elaborate on these considerations below to illustrate the value of each consideration. Issues encountered are discussed and strategies for dealing with various issues are described. Transportation barriers, scheduling difficulties, and skipped study milestones were among the most frequent challenges; we outline these and other issues encountered in REACT and corresponding considerations for such issues in Table 2. Sharing these experiences should aid future longitudinal investigations of young drivers, which are critically needed to reduce teen MVCs. Studies similar to REACT are considerable undertakings due to the comprehensive nature of longitudinal design. Such investigations must maintain a delicate balance between appropriate amounts of rigor and flexibility in the development of thoroughly defined research questions and theoretically driven frameworks. Key considerations that have contributed to the success of REACT are outlined, challenges encountered throughout data collection are documented, and recommendations based on choices made and lessons learned to inform future longitudinal investigations on young drivers are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]