Adolescents Discuss their Reactions to the September 11 Attacks

Abstract

A focus group of New York City adolescents was conducted 21 months after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to examine their emotional responses to the incidents. The adolescents had vivid memories of the attacks and articulated their reactions, their perspectives on the potential motives for the attacks, and their concerns about ongoing danger. Impressive was the maturity and thoughtfulness of their discourse, which revealed their efforts to process and integrate the events and a realization that their world had changed.

This research was supported by National Institute of Mental Health grants MH40025 and MH068853 to Carol S. North.

Notes

^a Seven spontaneous remarks and 12 responses to prompts.

^b Nine related to school, one related to emotional and drug issues, and one with September 11 content.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Betty Pfefferbaum

Betty Pfefferbaum is the Paul and Ruth Jonas Chair and professor and chair in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City. She is also director of the Terrorism and Disaster Center, which is part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Her expertise is in disasters, with a particular focus on children.

Carol S. North

Carol S. North is the Nancy and Ray L. Hunt Professor of Crisis Psychiatry and professor of psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. Dr. North is director of the Program in Trauma and Disaster at the VA North Texas Health Care System in Dallas. She is a pioneer in the field of psychiatric epidemiology of disasters.

David E. Pollio

David E. Pollio is an associate professor of social work and psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. His research interests include homelessness, runaway and street youths, mental health and illness, and trauma.

Nancy E. Wallace

Nancy E. Wallace is a mental health consultant and counselor serving numerous international and national corporations, nonprofit organizations, and governments. Her expertise is in the areas of trauma and disaster mental health, organizational development, training, and international advocacy.

Haekyung Jeon-Slaughter

Haekyung Jeon-Slaughter is a senior research statistician and volunteer adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma of Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City. Dr. Jeon-Slaughter's current research interests include applied statistics, applied microeconomics, and health policy.