Terrorism, Posttraumatic Stress, Spiritual Coping, and Mental Health

This study examines stress and coping in relation to mental health and spiritual outcomes following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In November 2001, a survey was mailed to a stratified, randomized sample of registered voters from six communities in Massachusetts (n = 231) and New York City (n = 58). The Short PTSD Rating Interview (SPRINT) posttraumatic stress scale, positive and negative spiritual coping, spiritual outcomes, the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey Mental Health subscale, and measures of prayer, church attendance and seeking social support comprised the questionnaire. Residents averaged between partial to full levels of posttraumatic stress, highest in New York City residents, but unrelated to knowing someone injured/killed in the tragedy. Seeking time with family and friends, positive spiritual coping attitudes, prayer, and attending a religious service were strongly related to positive spiritual outcomes. A decreased mental health score correlated with high stress score and negative spiritual coping. The study supported the observation of widespread secondary stress response to terrorist attacks, turning toward faith to cope with this tragedy, and the negative association of both stress and negative spiritual coping attitudes on mental health.