An Examination of the Reciprocal Relationship Between Avoidance Coping and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression

The current study examined whether avoidance coping predicted anxious and depressive symptoms prospectively in a nonclinical sample. One hundred and ninety-nine students were assessed at two time points over an eight-week period on their symptoms of anxiety, depression, and cognitive and behavioral avoidance coping. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the hypotheses. Results suggested that Time 1 anxious symptoms predicted both cognitive and behavioral avoidance coping at Time 2, and Time 1 cognitive avoidance coping predicted anxiety at Time 2. Time 1 depression predicted Time 2 behavioral avoidance coping, and Time 1 behavioral avoidance coping predicted increased depressive symptoms at Time 2. These findings extend our knowledge of the reciprocal role that avoidance coping plays in symptoms of anxiety and depression.