Children's strategies for coping with news coverage of the gulf war

Eighty children in grades three to six (ages 8 to 12 years) were interviewed about their use of cognitive and interpersonal strategies for coping with their reactions to news coverage of the Gulf war. Results showed that cognitive coping was used more often than social support, but that the two coping methods were judged equally effective. Older children used cognitive coping more often than younger children, but tended to seek social support less often. Coping was positively associated with negative affect during the war.