Post Traumatic Stress

This study examined adolescents’ adjustment following the attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11).
A Web-based survey was administered 2 weeks and 7 months postattacks to a national sample of
adolescents (N =104). A randomly selected parent also completed a survey at the 7-month assessment.
Although exposure to the attacks was indirect, over half the participants felt threatened. Adolescents’
posttraumatic stress symptoms were associated with their acute stress symptoms, parental distress, parental

The authors conducted confirmatory factor analyses of reports of posttraumatic stress reactions using a national probability sample of individuals indirectly exposed to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (n = 675). Reactions at three time points in the year after the attacks were best accounted for by a lower-order, 4-factor solution (Reexperiencing, Strategic Avoidance, Emotional Numbing, and Hyperarousal Symptoms). Indirect exposure to a traumatic event appears to induce a response with a similar symptom structure as responses to direct exposure.