Psychosocial predictors of resilience after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 inflicted distress beyond those directly exposed, thereby providing an opportunity to examine the contributions of a range of factors (cognitive, emotional, social support, coping) to psychological resilience for those indirectly exposed. In an Internet convenience sample of 1281, indices of resilience (higher well-being, lower distress) at baseline (2.5-12 weeks post-attack) were each associated with less emotional suppression, denial and self-blame, and fewer negative worldview changes. After controlling for initial outcomes, baseline negative worldview changes and aspects of social support and coping all remained significant predictors of 6-month outcomes, with worldview changes bearing the strongest relationship to each. These findings highlight the role of emotional, coping, social support, and particularly, cognitive variables in adjustment after terrorism.
Butler
Lisa D
LD
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA. ldbutler@buffalo.edu
Koopman
Cheryl
C
Azarow
Jay
J
Blasey
Christine M
CM
Magdalene
Juliette C
JC
DiMiceli
Sue
S
Seagraves
David A
DA
Hastings
T Andrew
TA
Chen
Xin-Hua
XH
Garlan
Robert W
RW
Kraemer
Helena C
HC
Spiegel
David
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends*; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult