Premium
Bus commuters' coping strategies and anxiety from terrorism: An example of the Israeli experience
Author(s) -
Gidron Yori,
Gal Reuven,
Zahavi Sa'ar
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1023/a:1024762819880
Subject(s) - denial , coping (psychology) , anxiety , terrorism , psychology , distraction , clinical psychology , poison control , suicide prevention , human factors and ergonomics , injury prevention , social psychology , psychiatry , medicine , medical emergency , psychotherapist , political science , neuroscience , law
This study examined the use of three coping strategies: (1) emotion‐focused coping (calming‐distraction); (2) problem‐focused coping (checking‐behavior); and (3) denial (reduced perceived vulnerability), and their relationship to anxiety from terrorism among 50 Israeli bus commuters. Their mean age was 31 years (60% females). Commuting frequency was negatively correlated, and problem‐focused coping was positively correlated with anxiety from terrorism. Ratios of problem‐focused coping/denial and of problem‐focused/emotion‐focused coping were each positively correlated with anxiety from terrorism. Coping ratios accounted for 15% of the variance in anxiety from terrorism, after considering commuting frequency. Combining minimal problem‐focused preventative acts with distraction and reduced perceived vulnerability may be beneficial.