Assessing the Impact of September 11th, 2001, on Children, Youth, and Parents: Methodological Challenges to Research on Terrorism and Other Nonnormative Events

摘要

It is difficult to overstate the magnitude of the tragedy of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. Attacks on civilians at a national symbol and center of commerce (the World Trade Center) as well as on noncombat military personnel at the nation's defense headquarters (the Pentagon) were viewed by citizens across the country as broad attacks on the United States. Extensive television, radio, print, and Internet coverage of the attacks, both as they unfolded in real time and in the weeks and months following, meant that individuals throughout the country were exposed at some level to the attacks. Therefore, although direct exposure to the attacks was restricted to New York City, Washington, DC, and Somerset County, Pennsylvania, individuals throughout the United States were, and in many cases still are, profoundly affected by the events of that day.