Psychosocial Predictors of Resilience After the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks JOURNAL OF NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASE Butler, L. D., Koopman, C., Azarow, J., Blasey, C. M., Magdalene, J. C., DiMiceli, S., Seagraves, D. A., Hastings, T. A., Chen, X., Garlan, R. W., Kraemer, H. C., Spiegel, D. 2009; 197 (4): 266-273

Abstract

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.

View details for DOI 10.1097/NMD.0b013e31819d9334

View details for Web of Science ID 000265249600008

View details for PubMedID 19363383