Longitudinal Stress Responses to the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks in a New York Metropolitan College Sample

ABSTRACT Stress responses to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were investigated in a New York City metropolitan (NYC Metro) college sample 2 days, 1, 2, 3 and 8 months post-trauma. Stress responses from a Midwestern College sample were also assessed 2 days after the attack. Results revealed substantial stress responses in both groups 2 days post-trauma. Only small, but significant, differences between the NYC Metro group and the Midwestern group were found, with the NYC group reporting slightly higher stress scores on the Impact of Event Scale (Horowitz, Wilner, and Alvarez, 1979). The stress responses in the NYC Metro group decreased significantly over time, however, means 3 and 8 months post-trauma suggest that some individuals continued to experience considerable stress responses.

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