Cognitive Performance in the Aftermath of a Natural Disaster: The Role of Coping Strategies, Theory of Mind and Peer Social Support

Autor/inn/en	Cadamuro, Alessia; Versari, Annalisa; Vezzali, Loris; Giovannini, Dino; Trifiletti, Elena
Titel	Cognitive Performance in the Aftermath of a Natural Disaster: The Role of Coping Strategies, Theory of Mind and Peer Social Support
Quelle	In: Child & Youth Care Forum, 44 (2015) 1, S.93-113 (21 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1053-1890
DOI	10.1007/s10566-014-9272-z
Schlagwörter	Natural Disasters; Coping; Elementary School Students; Foreign Countries; Theory of Mind; Questionnaires; Cognitive Ability; Peer Influence; Social Support Groups; Student Attitudes; Italy + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Natural disaster; Naturkatastrophe; Bewältigung; Ausland; Fragebogen; Denkfähigkeit; Social support; Soziale Unterstützung; Schülerverhalten; Italien
Abstract	Background: In May 2012, Northern Italy was struck by a tremendous series of earthquakes, which had devastating consequences and persisted for several months. Previous research shows that coping strategies and Theory of Mind (ToM) can help sustaining cognitive performance after a traumatic experience. Objective: We conducted a study to examine whether coping strategies used by elementary school children who were victims of the earthquakes were helpful in facing the consequences of these earthquakes by being positively associated with ToM and, in turn, with better cognitive performance. Methods: We administered a questionnaire to 517 elementary school children a few months after the earthquakes of May 2012. Results: Results revealed that active coping strategies were associated with greater ToM abilities that, in turn, were related with better cognitive performance. In contrast, negative coping strategies were negatively associated with the ability to mentalize others' mental states and, in turn, with less positive cognitive performance. Avoidant coping strategies were positively associated with improved cognitive performance. Moreover, they were also associated with better cognitive performance via greater ToM abilities (this latter effect was present only among those perceiving stronger social support from their peers). Conclusions: Active and avoidant coping strategies and ToM are important factors associated with better cognitive performance in the aftermath of a natural disaster. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01