Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2006 Dec;47(12):1219-27.
doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01664.x.

Pre-attack stress-load, appraisals, and coping in children's responses to the 9/11 terrorist attacks

Liliana J Lengua  1 , Anna C Long, Andrew N Meltzoff
Affiliations

Pre-attack stress-load, appraisals, and coping in children's responses to the 9/11 terrorist attacks

Liliana J Lengua et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2006 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Appraisal and coping following a disaster are important factors in children's post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. However, little is known about predictors of disaster coping responses. This study examined stress-load, appraisals and coping styles measured prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks as predictors of 9/11-specific appraisals, coping and PTS.

Methods: A community sample of children and parents (N = 143) participating in an ongoing study were interviewed by phone approximately 1 month following 9/11.

Results: Pre-attack stress-load, appraisal and coping styles predicted children's 9/11-specific appraisals, coping, and PTS. 9/11-specific threat appraisals and avoidant coping predicted higher PTS and mediated the effects of pre-attack stress-load and threat appraisal.

Conclusions: Pre-disaster stress-load, appraisal and coping styles predict disaster-specific appraisal and coping, which in turn, contribute to PTS. Coping interventions might mitigate PTS symptoms following a disaster.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Achenbach TM. Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist and Revised Child Behavior Profile. University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry; Burlington, VT: 1991.
    1. Ali T, Dunmore E, Clark D, Ehlers A. The role of negative beliefs in posttraumatic stress disorder: A comparison of assault victims and non victims. Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapy. 2002;30:249–257.
    1. Asarnow J, Glynn S, Pynoos RS, Nahum J, Guthrie D, Cantwell DP, Franklin B. When the earth stops shaking: Earthquake sequelae among children diagnosed for pre-earthquake psychopathy. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 1999;38:1016–1023. - PubMed
    1. Ayers TS, Sandler IN, West SG, Roosa MW. A dispositional and situational assessment of children’s coping: Testing alternative models of coping. Journal of Personality. 1996;64:923–958. - PubMed
    1. Bouchard G, Guillemette A, Landry-Leger N. Situational and dispositional coping: An examination of their relation to personality, cognitive appraisals, and psychological distress. European Journal of Personality. 2004;18:221–238.

Publication types