Terrorist Attacks and ChildrenWhen terrorist attacks occur, our children may witness or learn about these events by watching TV, talking with people at school, or over hearing adults discussing the events. For instance, the September 11th, 2001 attacks and the Oklahoma City bombing received widespread attention and media coverage and many children were exposed. But how should we speak to our children about these events when they occur? Should we shield them from such horrors or talk openly about them? How can we help children make sense of a tragedy that we ourselves cannot understand? How will children react? How can we help our children recover? Fortunately, there have been relatively few terrorist attacks. One consequence of this is that there is little empirical research to help us answer the above questions. Information from related events can be used to provide answers. How do children respond to terrorism?There is a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and physiological reactions that children may display following a terrorist attack. From previous research, we know that more severe reactions are associated with a higher degree of exposure (i.e., life threat, physical injury, witnessing death or injury, hearing screams, etc.), closer proximity to the disaster, a history of prior traumas, being female, poor parental response, and parental mental health problems. There is some research on children from the September 11th, 2001 attacks and the Oklahoma City Bombing. In a national sample of adults surveyed 3-5 days after the September 11th attacks, 35% of parents reported that their children had at least one stress symptom and almost half reported that their children were worried about their own safety or the safety of a loved one. Two factors related to increased stress symptoms were 1) amout of television coverage viewed by the child, and 2) parental distress. Children who watched the most coverage were reported to have more stress symptoms than those who watched less coverage. Similiarly, parents who endorsed more stress symptoms were also more likely to report that their children were upset, indicating a relationship between parental and child distress. Findings from a study following the Oklahoma City bombing indicate that more severe reactions were related to being female, knowing someone injured or killed, and bomb-related television viewing and media exposure. Below are some common reactions that children and adolescents may display. Young Children (1-6 years)
School-aged Children (6-11 years)
Pre-adolescents and Adolescents (12-18 years)
Tips for talking with your children about terrorismCreate a safe environment.One of the most important steps you can take is to help children feel safe. If possible, children should be placed in a familiar environment with people that they feel close to. Keep your child's routine as regular as possible. Children find comfort in having things be consistent and familiar. Provide children with reassurance and extra emotional support.Adults need to create an environment in which children feel safe enough to ask questions, express feelings, or just be by themselves. Let your children know they can ask questions. Ask your children what they have heard and how they feel about it. Reassure your child that they are safe and that you will not abandon them. Be honest with children about what happened.Provide accurate information, but make sure it is appropriate to their developmental level. Very young children may be protected because they are not old enough to be aware that something bad has happened. School age children will need help understanding what has happened. You might want to tell them that there has been a terrible accident and that many people have been hurt or killed. Adolescents will have a better idea of what has occurred. It may be appropriate to watch selected news coverage with your adolescent and then discuss it. Tell children what the government is doing.Reassure children that the state and federal government, police, firemen, and hospitals are doing everything possible. Explain that people from all over the country and from other countries offer their services in times of need. Be aware that children will often take on the anxiety of the adults around them.Parents have difficulty finding a balance between sharing their own feelings with their children and not placing their anxiety on their children. For example, the September 11 th attack on the United States was inconceivable. Our sense of safety and freedom was shattered. Many parents felt scared and fearful of another attack. Others were angry and revengeful. Parents must deal with their own emotional reactions before they can help children understand and label their feelings. Parents who are frightened may want to explain that to their child, but they should also talk about their ability to cope and how family members can help each other. Try to put the event in perspective.Although you yourself may be anxious or scared, children need to know that attacks are rare events. They also need to know that the world is generally a safe place. What can parents do?(Excerpted from Monahon) Infancy to two and a half years:
Zero-to-Three has published excellent guidelines for parents whose very young children (ages 0 to 3) might have been exposed to media or conversations about the September 11 th terroristic attacks. Two and a half to six years:
Six to eleven years:
Eleven to eighteen years:
How many children develop PTSD after a terrorist attack?
When should you seek professional help for your child?Many children and adolescents will display some of the symptoms listed above as a result of terrorist attacks. Most children will likely recover in a few weeks with social support and the aid of their families. Many of the above suggestions will help children recover more quickly. Other children, however, may develop PTSD, depression, or anxiety disorders. Parents of children with prolonged reactions or more severe reactions may want to seek the assistance of a mental-health counselor. It is important to find a counselor who has experience working with children as well as with survivors of trauma. Referrals can be obtained through the American Psychological Association at 1-800-964-2000. Also visit the website of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network References1.Schuster, M.A., Stein, B.D., Jaycox, L.H., Collins, R.L., Marshall, G.N., Elliott, M.N., et al. (2001). A National Survey of stress reactions after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. New England Journal Medicine, 345, 1507-1512. 2. Pfefferbaum, B., Nixon, S., Tucker, P., Tivis, R., Moore, V., Gurwitch, R., Pynoos, R., & Geis, H. (1999). Posttraumatic stress response in bereaved children after Oklahoma City bombing. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38, 1372-1379. 3. Pfefferbaum, B., Seale, T., McDonald, N., Brandt, E., Rainwater, S., Maynard, B., Meierhoefer, B. & Miller, P. (2000). Posttraumatic stress two years after the Oklahoma City bombing in youths geographically distant from the explosion. Psychiatry, 63, 358-370. 4. DeWolfe, D. (2001). Mental Health Response to Mass Violence and Terrorism: A Training Manual for Mental Health Workers and Human Service Workers. 5. Pynoos, R. & Nader, K. (1993). Issues in the treatment of posttraumatic stress in children and adolescents. In J.P. Wilson & B. Rapheal (Eds.), International Handbook of Traumatic Stress Syndromes (pp. 535-549). New York: Plenum. 6. Monahon, C. (1997). Children and Trauma: A Guide for Parents and Professionals. San Francisco: Jossey Bass |