The relationship between individual coping styles, reported levels of resilience and self-blame cognitions as predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

Objective
The aim of this literature review was to examine and summarise research investigating the relationship between coping and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in adults who have experienced trauma of a sexual nature. Trauma of a sexual nature was chosen as women are more likely to develop PTSD symptoms and be sexually assaulted.
Method
In May 2017; MEDLINE, CINAHL, PSYCInfo, PSYCArticles, SPORTDiscus, eBook Collection, PsycBOOKS, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and the British Library EThos were searched. Additional studies were hand searched from reference sections of identified studies and related reviews.
Results
Seventeen papers were identified and are included in the review. All of the papers used quantitative methods, and all looked at the relationship between coping to PTSD symptoms in adults who had been sexually assaulted .
Conclusions
The findings suggest there is a relationship between coping and PTSD symptoms in adults who have experienced trauma of a sexual nature. In particular there appears to be a relationship between maladaptive coping and increased PTSD symptoms, and maladaptive coping styles should be targeted during interventions. However the findings need to be considered with caution due to methodological flaws. Future research looking at the relationship is needed in different samples including males, and a much broader approach to research in this field is needed.