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New York City young adults’ psychological reactions to 9/11: findings from the Reach for Health longitudinal study

  • Original Paper
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American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

This research examines psychological distress among 955 economically disadvantaged New York City residents surveyed during high school and again after the September 11th terrorist attacks (9/11), when they were young adults. As part of the longitudinal Reach for Health study, young adult surveys were conducted from 6–19 months post-9/11 (average 8 months), providing opportunity to assess types of exposures and psychological distress, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, hopelessness, and anger. Regressions of psychological distress on 9/11 exposure were performed, controlling for high school distress, prior exposure to violence victimization, and socio-demographic characteristics. Exposure to 9/11 was positively associated with anger, hopelessness, and PTSD symptoms and a measure of global distress. The relationship was greater among women for PTSD symptoms. Although those who reported high school distress also reported more distress in young adulthood, prior psychological distress did not moderate the relationship between exposure and psychological outcomes. Greater exposure is related to distress among those who, during high school, reported lower distress, as well as among those who reported prior greater distress.

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Acknowledgements

This study was conducted with grants to Dr. Lydia O’Donnell, principal investigator, from the National Center for Injury and Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (R49/CCR118509) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD35378).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Education Development Center, Inc., 55 Chapel Street, Newton, MA, 02458, USA

    Gail Agronick, Ann Stueve, Sue Vargo & Lydia O’Donnell

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  1. Gail Agronick
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  2. Ann Stueve
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  3. Sue Vargo
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  4. Lydia O’Donnell
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Correspondence to Gail Agronick.

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Agronick, G., Stueve, A., Vargo, S. et al. New York City young adults’ psychological reactions to 9/11: findings from the Reach for Health longitudinal study. Am J Community Psychol 39, 79–90 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-007-9093-4

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