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Impact of terrorist attacks on social relationships
Roel Van Overmeire1, Rose-Lima Van Keer1, Johan Bilsen1
1Mental Health and Wellbeing Research Group (MENT), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
|March 26, 2021
Summary
Witnessing terrorist attacks significantly impacts social relationships. Changes in individuals and others' reactions can lead to altered social connections and coping mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Trauma often affects social relationships, yet the impact of witnessing terrorist attacks remains understudied.
- Current research prioritizes individual mental health over its effects on social connections.
- This study investigates how experiencing a terrorist attack influences an individual's social relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the impact of witnessing terrorist attacks on social relationships.
- To understand the mechanisms through which social connections are affected post-terrorism exposure.
Main Methods:
- Conducted in-depth interviews with 31 individuals directly exposed to the 22 March 2016 attacks in Belgium.
- Utilized reflexive thematic analysis to interpret qualitative data from interviews.
Main Results:
- Participants reported personal changes (aggression, guilt, distrust, psychosomatic symptoms) affecting social interactions.
- Reactions from others to participants' expressed feelings and behaviors led to feelings of being misunderstood.
- These factors resulted in altered coping strategies (e.g., silence, avoidance), further changing social relationships.
Conclusions:
- Social relationships of terrorist attack witnesses can be negatively impacted by individual changes and social reactions.
- Increased awareness of mental health consequences for witnesses of terrorist attacks is crucial.
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