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SOUTHERN TEENS STRESSED AFTER 9/11/2001 TERRORIST ATTACKS | |
| Contact: Vernon Barnes, PhD Phone: (706) 721-2195 Email: vbarnes@mail.mcg.edu Embargoed until: March 3, 2004 |
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Orlando, FL—Stressed-out after the terrorist attacks? Who wasn't? Findings from a study of over 400 African-American inner-city high school students who were not directly exposed to the 9/11/01 attacks indicate that approximately 10% reported clinically significant levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms three months after the attacks. Interestingly, over one fourth of the sample reported symptoms including chronic feelings of loss of control, hope and optimism, feeling "superalert" or "on guard" and feeling pessimistic about the likelihood of world peace and their future well-being after the attacks. Many students experienced repeated disturbing thoughts or images of the attacks, avoidance of thoughts, feelings or talking about the attacks, sleep difficulties and some reported nightmares about the attacks. Further, higher stress scores were associated with higher levels of chronic anger, suggesting that those who easily become openly angry were particularly vulnerable to experiencing symptoms of distress. On a positive note, 53% reported feeling closer to at least one person because of things said or done after the disaster. Results of the study were presented for the first time at the American Psychosomatic Society Annual Meeting held March 3-6 in Orlando, Florida. The study was conducted by Vernon Barnes, a physiologist, and Ph.D., Frank Treiber, Ph.D., Director of the Georgia Prevention Institute, and colleagues of the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA. "Little information is available about the range and severity of post-traumatic distress in youth resulting from indirect exposure to the 9/11/01 attacks. How such youth have weathered the events related to the war on terrorism which have transpired since 9/11/01 attacks is unknown," mentioned Dr. Barnes. "Given the numerous events which have occurred since 9/11/01 related to the war on terrorism, we hope that this study raises awareness of educators, pediatric caregivers, school psychologists and counselors, regarding the potential emotional and psychological impact of such disasters," added Dr. Treiber. | |
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Psychosomatic Medicine is the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Psychosomatic Society, published bimonthly. For information about the journal, contact Vicki White, Managing Editor for Manuscript Production,
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