Fear, Functioning, and Coping During Exposure to a Continuous Security Threat

Abstract

This study focused on the contribution of fear to mediating stress, as manifested in general stress reactions and impaired functioning resulting from exposure to a continuous security threat among 451 students from a college located in a confrontation zone. The findings indicated that the contribution of fear reactions was more significant than actual exposure. Married participants felt higher levels of fear than did single participants, and women were able to function despite their fear. In addition, coping patterns were both directly and indirectly related to all stress measures. The results are discussed in light of the literature on stress reactions, and practical recommendations for working in continuous threat situations are proposed.