The impact of the Oklahoma City bombing on children in the community.
This study examined the influence of exposure on post-traumatic stress symptomatology in children following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Over 2,000 children were surveyed 7 weeks after the bombing. Initial reaction and emotional exposure were important predictors of post-traumatic stress symptomatology in the full sample. Children who reported no physical or emotional exposure had significantly lower scores than exposed children on television viewing, initial reaction, and post-traumatic stress symptomatology. Within the nonexposed group, those with high television exposure had significantly more post-traumatic stress symptoms. Children with strong initial reactions should be followed over time, and disaster-related television viewing should be carefully monitored.
Pfefferbaum
B
B
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73190-3048, USA. betty-pfefferbaum@ouhsc.edu
D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009825:Oklahoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013690:Television; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology*