Post-traumatic cognitions and quality of life in terrorism victims: the role of well-being in indirect versus direct exposure

Abstract Background The effect of indirect (versus direct) exposure to a traumatic event on the quality of life of terrorist attack victims has received considerable attention in the literature. However, more research is required to examine whether the symptoms and underlying processes caused by bot...

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Main Authors: Miriam Bajo, Amalio Blanco, Maria Stavraki, Beatriz Gandarillas, Ana Cancela, Blanca Requero, Darío Díaz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-05-01
Series:Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12955-018-0923-x
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spelling doaj-6aaaf58fe4674b12a6d8d9815aaf810b2020-11-25T00:23:36ZengBMCHealth and Quality of Life Outcomes1477-75252018-05-011611910.1186/s12955-018-0923-xPost-traumatic cognitions and quality of life in terrorism victims: the role of well-being in indirect versus direct exposureMiriam Bajo0Amalio Blanco1Maria Stavraki2Beatriz Gandarillas3Ana Cancela4Blanca Requero5Darío Díaz6Department of Medical Psychology, Universidad de Castilla la Mancha, Ciudad Real Medical SchoolDepartment of Social Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de MadridDepartment of Medical Psychology, Universidad de Castilla la Mancha, Ciudad Real Medical SchoolDepartment of Psychology, Universidad Francisco de VitoriaDepartment of Psychology, Centro Universitario VillanuevaDepartment of Social Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de MadridDepartment of Medical Psychology, Universidad de Castilla la Mancha, Ciudad Real Medical SchoolAbstract Background The effect of indirect (versus direct) exposure to a traumatic event on the quality of life of terrorist attack victims has received considerable attention in the literature. However, more research is required to examine whether the symptoms and underlying processes caused by both types of exposure are equivalent. Our main hypothesis is that well-being plays a different role depending on indirect vs. direct trauma exposure. Methods In this cross-sectional study, eighty direct victims of 11-M terrorist attacks (people who were traveling in trains where bombs were placed) and two-hundred indirect victims (individuals highly exposed to the 11-M terrorist attacks through communications media) voluntarily participated without compensation. To test our hypothesis regarding the mediating role of indirect exposure, we conducted a biased corrected bootstrapping procedure. To test our hypothesis regarding the moderating role of direct exposure, data were subjected to a hierarchical regression analysis. Results As predicted, for indirect trauma exposure, well-being mediated the relationship between post-traumatic dysfunctional cognitions and trauma symptoms. However, for direct trauma exposure, well-being moderated the relationship between post-traumatic dysfunctional cognitions and trauma symptoms. Conclusions The results of our study indicate that the different role of well-being found between indirect (causal factor) and direct exposure (protective factor) should be taken into consideration in interventions designed to improve victims’ health.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12955-018-0923-xWell-beingQuality of lifePost-traumatic cognitionsTerrorismIndirect-direct exposure
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Miriam Bajo
Amalio Blanco
Maria Stavraki
Beatriz Gandarillas
Ana Cancela
Blanca Requero
Darío Díaz
spellingShingle Miriam Bajo
Amalio Blanco
Maria Stavraki
Beatriz Gandarillas
Ana Cancela
Blanca Requero
Darío Díaz
Post-traumatic cognitions and quality of life in terrorism victims: the role of well-being in indirect versus direct exposure
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Well-being
Quality of life
Post-traumatic cognitions
Terrorism
Indirect-direct exposure
author_facet Miriam Bajo
Amalio Blanco
Maria Stavraki
Beatriz Gandarillas
Ana Cancela
Blanca Requero
Darío Díaz
author_sort Miriam Bajo
title Post-traumatic cognitions and quality of life in terrorism victims: the role of well-being in indirect versus direct exposure
title_short Post-traumatic cognitions and quality of life in terrorism victims: the role of well-being in indirect versus direct exposure
title_full Post-traumatic cognitions and quality of life in terrorism victims: the role of well-being in indirect versus direct exposure
title_fullStr Post-traumatic cognitions and quality of life in terrorism victims: the role of well-being in indirect versus direct exposure
title_full_unstemmed Post-traumatic cognitions and quality of life in terrorism victims: the role of well-being in indirect versus direct exposure
title_sort post-traumatic cognitions and quality of life in terrorism victims: the role of well-being in indirect versus direct exposure
publisher BMC
series Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
issn 1477-7525
publishDate 2018-05-01
description Abstract Background The effect of indirect (versus direct) exposure to a traumatic event on the quality of life of terrorist attack victims has received considerable attention in the literature. However, more research is required to examine whether the symptoms and underlying processes caused by both types of exposure are equivalent. Our main hypothesis is that well-being plays a different role depending on indirect vs. direct trauma exposure. Methods In this cross-sectional study, eighty direct victims of 11-M terrorist attacks (people who were traveling in trains where bombs were placed) and two-hundred indirect victims (individuals highly exposed to the 11-M terrorist attacks through communications media) voluntarily participated without compensation. To test our hypothesis regarding the mediating role of indirect exposure, we conducted a biased corrected bootstrapping procedure. To test our hypothesis regarding the moderating role of direct exposure, data were subjected to a hierarchical regression analysis. Results As predicted, for indirect trauma exposure, well-being mediated the relationship between post-traumatic dysfunctional cognitions and trauma symptoms. However, for direct trauma exposure, well-being moderated the relationship between post-traumatic dysfunctional cognitions and trauma symptoms. Conclusions The results of our study indicate that the different role of well-being found between indirect (causal factor) and direct exposure (protective factor) should be taken into consideration in interventions designed to improve victims’ health.
topic Well-being
Quality of life
Post-traumatic cognitions
Terrorism
Indirect-direct exposure
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12955-018-0923-x
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