Behavior problems in New York City's children after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Children's behavior was assessed with 3 cross-sectional random-digit-dial telephone surveys conducted 11 months before, 4 months after, and 6 months after September 11, 2001. Parents reported fewer behavior problems in children 4 months after the attacks compared with the pre-September 11 baseline. However, 6 months after the attacks, parents' reporting of behavior problems was comparable to pre-September 11 levels. In the 1st few months after a disaster, the identification of children who need mental health treatment may be complicated by a dampened behavioral response or by a decreased sensitivity of parental assessment to behavioral problems.
Stuber
Jennifer
J
Division of Health and Science Policy, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY 10029-5293, USA.
Galea
Sandro
S
Pfefferbaum
Betty
B
Vandivere
Sharon
S
Moore
Kristen
K
Fairbrother
Gerry
G
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015588:Observer Variation; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology*