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Exposure to Terrorism and Israeli Youths' Psychological Distress and Alcohol Use: An Exploratory Study
Author(s) -
Schiff Miriam,
Benbenishty Rami,
McKay Mary,
DeVoe Ellen,
Liu Xinhua,
Hasin Deborah
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1080/10550490600626200
Subject(s) - psychiatry , clinical psychology , suicide prevention , psychology , psychological distress , injury prevention , depression (economics) , alcohol consumption , poison control , terrorism , occupational safety and health , human factors and ergonomics , exploratory research , medicine , mental health , alcohol , environmental health , biochemistry , chemistry , sociology , anthropology , economics , macroeconomics , history , archaeology , pathology
This study examined the associations between physical and psychological proximity to terrorist attacks and post‐traumatic symptoms (PTS), depressive symptoms, and alcohol use among Israeli youth. Self‐administered questionnaires were completed under anonymous conditions by 1,150 high and junior high school students (51.3% boys and 48.7% girls) in a town in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Standardized, validated scales were used to measure psychological symptoms and alcohol use. High levels of exposure to terrorism were reported. Physical and psychological proximity to terrorist attacks were associated with more PTS symptoms and alcohol consumption. Physical proximity was also associated with symptoms of depression. The implications of terror‐associated early drinking for later alcohol problems should be explored.