Survivors Of Terrorism Research Articles

Trauma, truth, and testimony: analysing terrorism survivors’ victim impact statements

ABSTRACT Terrorism inflicts profound and enduring impacts on survivors and communities, yet the complex realities and needs of victims are often obscured in legal and policy discourses. This study examines the lived experiences of Israeli terrorism survivors through a qualitative thematic analysis of 28 victim impact statements submitted to courts from 2010 to 2023. The research uncovers the profound and enduring impact of terrorism on psychological, physical, social, and economic well-being. Pervasive grief, trauma, and irrevocable life changes emerge as central themes alongside the ripple effects on families and communities. Victims also describe daunting practical challenges in rebuilding their lives and express frustration with perceived leniency in sentencing and gaps in institutional support. While conveying urgent needs for comprehensive, trauma-informed assistance, the statements also reveal remarkable resilience and meaning-making in the face of horror. The article discusses the implications of developing more responsive, victim-centred policies and practices guided by the expressed priorities of survivors themselves. Key recommendations are outlined to foster a more humane and holistic response to the suffering of terrorism victims.

Framing Terrorism Survivors: Visual Representation of Boko Haram Survivors in International News Media

This study analyzed how African, American, and British online mainstream news sources visually represent Boko Haram survivors. A longitudinal study from 2014 to 2021 was conducted using purposive sampling to analyze news media photographs with captions (N = 187). Drawing from agenda-setting and cultural dimensions frameworks, the study identified major differences in survivors’ gender, emotional expressions, and personally identifiable information across all three online news platforms. Findings show that these media portrayals of terrorism survivors reflect the cultural norms of the society in which the predominant audience of these outlets resides.

“What if…?”: Vividness and frequency of counterfactual thinking in survivors of terrorism

AbstractAfter traumatic experiences, it is common to think about alternative scenarios or outcomes of the event. This is often referred to as counterfactual thoughts (CFT), and CFT after trauma have been associated with posttraumatic stress reactions (PTSR). In this study, we aimed to: (1) investigate the relationship between the vividness and frequency of CFT and PTSR, and to (2) examine the associations between exposure, peri‐traumatic reactions, physical injury and the loss of someone close, and the subsequent vividness and frequency of CFT. The participants (N = 289) were survivors of a terror attack in Norway. More vivid and frequent CFT were significantly and independently related to more PTSR. Exposure during trauma was significantly associated with more vivid CFT in the unadjusted regression model. No further significant relationships were found between exposure, peri‐traumatic reactions, physical injury and the loss of someone close, and the vividness and frequency of CFT. As CFT are common after trauma and potentially cause distress, clinicians should identify and validate CFT, and provide coping assistance.

What will others think of me? The longitudinal association between trauma-related shame and guilt and psychopathology after a terror attack.

Trauma-related shame and guilt have been identified as important factors for mental health following interpersonal trauma. For survivors of terror and disasters, however, the role of shame and guilt remains largely unknown. To explore the long-term occurrence of trauma-related shame and guilt among survivors of a terror attack, and the potential importance of these emotions for mental health. A total of 347 survivors (48.7% female, mean age at the time of the attack: 19.25 years, s.d. = 4.40) of the 2011 massacre on Utøya island, Norway, participated in face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. Trauma-related shame and guilt were measured with items from the Shame and Guilt After Trauma Scale at 2.5 and 8.5 years post-terror attack. Post-traumatic reactions and anxiety/depression at 8.5 years post-terror attack were measured with the University of California at Los Angeles PTSD Reaction Index and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, respectively. Associations between trauma-related shame/guilt and post-trauma psychopathology were analysed by multiple linear regressions. Trauma-related shame and guilt were prevalent among survivors at both 2.5 and 8.5 years post-terror attack. In unadjusted analyses, shame and guilt, at both time points, were significantly associated with post-traumatic stress reactions and anxiety/depression. Shame remained significantly associated with mental health when adjusted for guilt. Both earlier and current shame were uniquely related to mental health. Trauma-related shame and guilt may be prevalent in survivors of mass trauma several years after the event. Shame, in particular, may play an important role for long-term mental health. Clinicians may find it helpful to explicitly address shame in treatment of mass trauma survivors.

Terror leaves adolescents behind: Identifying risk and protective factors for high-school completion among survivors of terrorism.

Terror exposure increases the risk of somatic and psychological health problems in survivors. Yet, knowledge of how such exposure affects survivors' ability to stay in school is lacking. This study examined whether exposure to the 2011 Utøya terrorist attack in Norway impacted survivors' ability to complete high school. Further, it aimed to identify important peri- and posttraumatic risk and protective factors. Interview data from the Utøya study, collected 4-5 months postterror, were linked to individual educational registry data for 265 survivors. Chi-square tests and ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to examine (a) high school completion among younger survivors (n = 185, age range: 13-18 years, 52.4% female) compared to both older survivors (i.e., who had the possibility of completing high school before the terror attacks; n = 80, age range: 19-21 years, 40.0% female) and the national average and (b) associations between high school completion and physical injury, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), somatic symptoms, and social support among younger survivors. Younger survivors were significantly less likely to complete high school on time. Among younger adolescents, physical injury, aOR = 0.36,95% CI [0.16, 0.81]; higher-level PTSS, aOR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.33, 0.88]; and somatic symptoms, aOR = 0.51, 95% CI [0.29, 0.91],lowered the likelihood of on-time completion. Terror exposure in adolescence adversely affects long-term educational functioning in young survivors, which can severely hamper their future prospects. These findings reinforce the need for trauma-sensitive teaching and educator-provided support for adolescents exposed to trauma.

Healthcare utilization after mass trauma: a register-based study of consultations with primary care and mental health services in survivors of terrorism

BackgroundKnowledge on healthcare utilization after mass trauma is needed to strengthen the public health preparedness to such incidents. Using register-based data, this study had a unique opportunity to investigate how young survivors’ use of primary care physicians (PCP) and mental health services (MHS) changed after a terrorist attack.MethodsWe examined register-based data on PCP and MHS consultations among 255 survivors (52% male) of the 2011 Utøya youth camp attack in Norway 3 years before and after the attack, and their reason for encounter with the PCP according to the International Classification for Primary Care (ICPC− 2).ResultsThe PCP and MHS consultation rates (CR) were higher in female than male survivors both acutely and at long-term. The mean yearly CRs increased from 2.25 to 4.41 for PCP and 1.77 to 13.59 for MHS the year before and after the attack in female survivors, and from 1.45 to 3.65 for PCP and 1.02 to 11.77 for MHS in male survivors. The third year post-attack CRs for PCP were 3.55 and 2.00; and CRs for MHS were 5.24 and 2.30 in female and male survivors, respectively. Among female survivors, 76% consulted PCP and 12% MHS the year preceding the attack; post-attack 93% consulted PCP and 73% MHS the first year; decreasing to 87 and 40% the third year. Among male survivors, 61% consulted PCP and 7% MHS the year preceding the attack; post-attack 86% consulted PCP and 61% MHS the first year, and 67 and 31% the third year. As for PCP consultations, there was a particular increase in psychological reasons for encounter following the attack.ConclusionsThis study indicates that it is important to anticipate an increased healthcare utilization several years following mass trauma, particularly of MHS. Both PCP and MHS practitioners played important roles in providing healthcare for psychological problems in young survivors of terrorism in a country with universal and largely publicly financed healthcare and a gatekeeping system. The healthcare utilization could be different in countries with other health systems or psychosocial care responses to mass trauma.

Changes in healthcare utilization after mass trauma: A register-based study of young survivors’ utilization of primary care and mental health services before and after the Utøya attack in Norway

Abstract Introduction Using register-based data, this study had a unique possibility to investigate how young survivors’ use of primary care and mental health services (MHS) changed after a terrorist attack. Methods We analyzed data on consultations with primary care physicians (PCP) and MHS among 255 survivors (48% female) of the 2011 Utøya youth camp attack in Norway three years before and after the attack, and their reason for encounter with the PCP according to the International Classification for Primary Care (ICPC-2). Results The majority of survivors consulted PCP both before and after the attack, with a marked increase in psychological reasons for encounter after the attack. Few consulted MHS before the attack, while most survivors did after the attack. In total, 93% of female survivors and 88% of male survivors consulted PCP in the three years before the attack, compared to respectively 98% and 96% in the three years after the attack. Moreover, 17% of female survivors and 11% of male survivors consulted MHS in the 3 years before the attack, compared to respectively 80% and 65% in the 3 years after the attack. From the year before to the year after the attack, the mean yearly consultation rates (CR) increased two-fold for PCP and nearly 8-fold for MHS in female survivors, and more than two-fold for PCP and nearly 12-fold for MHS in male survivors. Both before and after the attack, the consultations rates for PCP and MHS were higher for female than male survivors. The levels of posttraumatic stress, depression and anxiety symptoms and somatic symptoms were also higher in female survivors both early and at long-term after the attack. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that both PCP and MHS played important roles in providing healthcare for psychological problems in young survivors of terrorism in Norway. Potential implications for public health preparedness to mass trauma will be discussed in the presentation.

On Remembering Hanau and Being an Emotional Academic

On Remembering Hanau and Being an Emotional Academic

The Compromise of Return: Viennese Jews after the Holocaust Elizabeth Anthony

Few Jewish survivors of Nazi terror returned to Germany or Austria after 1945. Several factors weighed against return, including the absence of loved ones and memories of the indifferent, opportunistic, or brutal behavior of neighbors, acquaintances, and coworkers. Elizabeth Anthony’s examination of Viennese Jews who did re-emigrate considers the range of motivations that led them to come back. Her book, particularly commendable for its sensitivity to survivors’ voices, takes into account pre-Anschluss Jewish life in Vienna, hardships under the Nazis, emigration, deportation, and returnees’ experiences after the war. Anthony’s presentation unfolds via four main chapters linked by the notion of return and the draw of Heimat (homeland). These central components are bookended by an introductory section establishing historical context from approximately 1848 to 1945, and a final chapter examining the impact of postwar political developments on everyday Viennese Jewish life and Jewish organizations, as well as the influence of the...

Sexual Terrorism and Social Stigma: How Stigma Influences the Pathway to Justice for Survivors of Boko Haram, and Potential Ways Forward

Boko Haram has victimised numerous women and girls using tactics of sexual terrorism. As criminal justice for this crime is rarely obtained, this article seeks to find ways to bring social justice to its survivors. However, the stigmatisation of the survivors, which is signalled to frequently occur, hampers this process greatly. As survivors of sexual terrorism suffer from stigma, they are being denied social justice, since their position in society is compromised or their suffering is even being denied. This article comprises a literature review that aims to combine published work concerning sexual terrorism, social justice and stigma in an explorative, yet systematic way to identify underlying mechanisms and classify potential ways forward. It was found that stigmatisation, both from wider society as survivors' close connections can have a great psychological impact, on top of the frequently severe physical, psychological, and socio-economic consequences that sexual terrorism already brings forward. Six kinds of interventions were found to reduce the survivor's suffering and stigmatisation, thereby enlarging their social justice.

Survivor narratives of the Oklahoma City bombing: The story over time

AbstractThe growing disaster psychiatry research literature has focused on posttraumatic stress disorder, producing little insight into subjective disaster experience. Qualitative research, especially narrative analysis, may provide in‐depth exploration of individual disaster experience and efforts to make meaning of it. Disaster narratives were collected from a random sample of 182 Oklahoma City bombing survivors 6 months after the disaster and again from 141 survivors nearly 1 year later. These narratives were examined for the evolution of recurring themes and their content over time. The content followed a natural time structure, encompassing phases of the bombing experience that were organized into three overarching categories containing individual themes: (a) experience of the bomb blast including themes of sensory experience and cognitions, (b) immediate aftermath including themes of structural damage, helping others, escape and physical injury, and (c) later reflections. The general content and focus of the narratives changed minimally between the baseline and follow‐up interviews, but there was considerable compression of detail in the follow‐up interviews. Narrative details demonstrating consistency across time may represent the most salient meaning derived from the disaster experience. These findings have potential applicability to therapeutic interventions for working with survivors of terrorism and other disasters.

Problems and Needs Persist for Oklahoma City Bombing Survivors Many Years Later.

Background: This study assesses long-term physical and emotional symptoms and unmet needs in direct survivors of the 1995 Oklahoma City terrorist bombing 18 ½ years after the event. Methods: A telephone questionnaire assessed psychiatric symptoms, health problems and coping strategies in 138 terrorism survivors (of whom 80% were physically injured) from a state registry of directly exposed persons, and 171 non-exposed community controls. Structured survey questions measured psychiatric symptoms, posttraumatic growth, general health problems and health care utilization. Open-ended questions explored survivors’ most important terrorism-related problems and needs. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods were undertaken. Results: Survivors reported similar rates of major health problems and general health care utilization, more anxiety and depression symptoms, and more ancillary health care use than controls on structured assessments. Survivors also reported posttraumatic growth, using several positive coping skills. Open-ended questions identified survivors’ specific continuing bombing-related problems, and needs which were not disclosed on the questionnaire; these included many lasting physical injuries, health problems (especially hearing difficulties), specific posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, other emotional symptoms, work and financial problems, interpersonal issues, and desires to help others. Conclusions: Results suggest that extended recovery services are needed long after terrorism exposure, and that open-ended assessment is useful to identify those requiring services.

The association between parent-reported child disaster reactions and posttraumatic stress disorder in parent survivors of disasters and terrorism.

Disaster studies establishing an association between parent and child disaster reactions usually discuss results in terms of the influence of parents on their children. This study explores a complementary interpretation of this association by focusing on the potential influence of children on their parents. Investigations of 5 disasters and terrorist events included a combined sample of 556 survivor parents and their 1,066 children. Structured diagnostic interviews were administered to survivor parents to obtain diagnostic assessment of pre- and post-disaster psychiatric disorders. Parent survivors also provided information about their own demographics and disaster experiences and about each child's demographics, disaster-related experiences, and disaster reactions (posttraumatic stress symptoms, behavior changes, increased school behavior problems, and decline in grades). The results revealed an association of parent posttraumatic stress disorder with parent injury in the disaster, parent lifetime pre-disaster psychiatric disorder, parent direct exposure to disaster trauma, and each of 4 child disaster outcomes. The analysis suggests the potential for child factors to influence survivors' reactions. Clinicians should query survivors about their children's reactions and ascertain the need for services for the children. Future research should examine the potential that children's reactions influence parent outcomes.

Supporting the survivors: Experiences and perceptions of peer support offered to UK terrorist survivors

Recent terror incidents in the UK, including the targeting of concert attendees in Manchester, to individuals socialising and working in central London, highlight the public’s vulnerability and that attacks can be indiscriminate, resulting in any individual becoming a victim to this fearful crime. As a consequence of these and other attacks, including those overseas, media reporting within the UK has increasingly focused on the inadequate levels of support offered to survivors from official agencies. However, little evaluation has been conducted regarding the benefits of support networks and online support groups created directly by those individuals affected by terror attacks. Quantitative research findings obtained through a self-administered online questionnaire, completed by 81 survivors of terrorist attacks who are members of different peer support networks in the UK, endorsed that while victims feel that adequate professional support is lacking, significant positive experiences have been achieved through peer support, particularly through the internet. This first independent academic study found that it was these methods of support that had the most resonance with individuals and offers several recommendations, based on findings, which could enhance and improve support for survivors of terrorism in the future.

The Significance of Justice in the Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Traumatized People After War and Crises.

In the aftermath of crimes against humanity, human rights violations, and genocide, the question arises whether and how justice can be restored. A lack of social justice and continuing injustice in post-conflict areas prevent survivors from processing their traumatic experiences. As a consequence, the individuals and often their families, their community, and the whole society are changed in a lasting way. The trauma can even be passed on over generations. Yet, if war has a negative impact on health, then, programs that focus on achieving justice, peace, and stability should be able to offset or reduce this negative impact. For this reason, the importance of psychosocial well-being and mental health for the reconstruction of societies is acknowledged. Various political, legal, and social programs, like transitional justice, are being implemented in post-war regions to develop justice. Developing or restoring justice also requires good psychosocial care, like a treatment that supports individuals when coping with injustice and gaining a new sense of justice. Such a psychological treatment can make an important contribution when it comes to building new trust and improving mental health. Ethical standards in coping with trauma and developing or restoring justice in post-conflict regions are indispensable to enable long-term peace. The course for new social justice can be set, through a just health system. Thereby, only programs and legal processes, which try to do justice to the survivors and take their needs into account, are ethically justifiable. Human rights and health cannot be separated in psychotherapy with survivors of war and terror. Based on ethical principles, new approaches must be generated for psychotherapy in war regions and with survivors of war and terror. The aim will be to make an important contribution to the mental and social reconstruction of countries after mass violence.

Stress on local and international psychotherapists in the crisis region of Iraq

BackgroundLocal and international Psychotherapists working with war survivors are confronted with a whole variety of burdens. The close contact to their clients and the conversations about terror, flight and genocides, they are frequently subject to vicarious traumatization resulting from these events and reveal a risk of developing secondary traumatization.MethodsWe interviewed 54 local psychotherapists and 28 psychotherapists originating from abroad who were treating survivors of ISIS terror in refugee camps organised by non-government organisations (NGOs).ResultsThe results show that local and non-local psychotherapists who work in a context of humanitarian crises reveal a risk of developing secondary traumatization. The results of this present study would also indicate that the secondary traumatization depends both on individual characteristics such as bonding styles and personal experiences and also on the ambient characteristics such as the degree of traumatization of the patients.ConclusionThe study revealed that the local and non-local psychotherapists had a range of different pressure factors and helpful resources which indicated that better caring/support, supervision and organization are needed to enable psychotherapists to perform more effectively in war regions from the point of view of preventive healthcare.

Trust After Terror: Institutional Trust Among Young Terror Survivors and Their Parents After the 22nd of July Terrorist Attack on Utøya Island, Norway.

In the aftermath of terrorist attacks and disasters, public institutions play an important role in re-establishing safety and justice. However, little is known about the importance of institutional trust for victims’ potential for healing in the aftermath of mass trauma. This study examines levels of post-terror trust in the police and in the justice system among young survivors from the 2011 Utøya terror attack and their parents. Furthermore, it investigates how institutional trust develops over time among directly affected populations, and whether it is associated with psychological distress. 325 survivors and 463 parents were interviewed face-to-face at wave one (4–5 months post-terror) and 285 survivors and 435 parents at wave two (14–15 months). Levels of institutional trust in victims were compared to general population data from the European Social Survey adjusted for age, gender, and ethnic background. Measures included trust in the police and justice system, post-traumatic stress reactions, anxiety and depression, and quality of life. Trust in the police among survivors and parents was higher than or comparable to trust levels in the general population at wave one, but decreased for survivors and parents at wave two. Trust in the justice system was higher among those directly affected than in the general population, and increased from wave one to wave two. Levels of institutional trust were negatively associated with distress for survivors in both waves and for parents in wave two. Levels of institutional trust were positively associated with perceived quality of life in parents and survivors. Directly affected groups’ institutional trust differed from that of the general population following the terrorist attack, although being directly affected did not necessarily imply weakened institutional trust. This study found trust to be institution specific, however, trust in institutions changed with time, and the passing of time might be an important factor in better understanding whether trust will generalize across institutions or not. Institutional trust was negatively associated with psychological distress. This finding highlights the potential for institutions to create a healing post-disaster environment.

Trauma and Post Traumatic Growth in Young Survivors of a Terrorist Attack: An Experiential Account of Supportive Interventions in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan

ABSTRACT In the winter of 2014, four terrorists attacked a school in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), resulting in more than a hundred students’ death. Twenty-two survivors (aged 10–18 years) with physical injuries were admitted to a private hospital in Karachi for further surgical and psychological interventions. The aim of this paper is to share a retrospective experiential account of a trauma management plan, based on the bio-psycho-socio-spiritual model for young survivors of terrorism. In biological management, children with hyper-arousal symptoms and sleep disturbances were started on Prazosin and those meeting criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders were started on Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The Psychosocial interventions included individual therapy, physical therapy, family education, and music groups. Children and their families were also encouraged to draw on their religious support. At the time of discharge, these children were evaluated through clinical interview to assess for improvement. A massive decrease in their hyper-arousal symptoms was seen as evidenced by improvements in their sleeping patterns, mood and behaviour. Moreover, signs of psychosocial development based on the principles of Post Traumatic Growth were visible. Our main limitations were the short period of time and a lack of follow up opportunity. However, this framework provides a basis to establish trauma services at tertiary care hospitals in developing countries like Pakistan where access to overall health care is limited and specifically psychiatric care is lacking in health care institutes.

An Examination into the Nature and Extent of Terrorism in Kenya

Terrorism remains a major threat to the national, regional and global peace and security. It has become a central and controversial issue of global attention. International consensus is growing on the best way forward to counter-terrorism. In Kenya, the influence of the National Police Service (NPS) in Countering Terrorism significantly increased when Al-Qaida bombed the United States of America embassy in August 1998. This led to the formation of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and Kenya was added to the United State Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program (USATAP). The purpose of the study was to assess the nature and extent of terrorism in Kenya. The study was guided by the economic theory of rational choice of terrorism to explain the economic rationale behind prevalence of terrorist activities in Kenya. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The study site was police stations within Nairobi County. Both the probability and non-probability strategies were used in the study: systematic random sampling technique for police officers, purposive sampling for key informants and snowballing sampling for terrorism survivors. Data were collected from a sample of 311 respondents using semi-structured questionnaires and interview guides. Data analysis was done using the descriptive statistic, using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The study found out that political instability in neighbouring countries and porous borders makes Kenya an attractive target and an easy conduit for terrorist-related materiel, activities, and transit points The study concludes that to prevent conflicts and by extension terrorism, the priority must be given in addressing underlying root causes of conflicts such as poverty, unemployment, human rights violations, injustices, corruptions, marginalization and impunity. The study recommended that the NPS should increase public participation in CT. (278 words) Keywords: terrorism, national police service, nature, extent, prevalence of terrorism DOI : 10.7176/JEP/10-30-15 Publication date :October 31 st 2019

The moderating role of narcissism on the relationship between posttraumatic growth and PTSD symptoms

ObjectiveTo attempt to clarify the controversy about the nature of posttraumatic growth (PTG) by investigating whether narcissism and self-deception can be moderating factors in the relationship between PTG and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Method152 survivors of terrorism, road, and work accidents participated in the study and were administered the Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire (SLESQ), Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), Narcissistic Vulnerability Scale (NVS), and the Self-Deceptive Enhancement Scale (SDES). ResultsNarcissism was found to moderate the relationship between PTG and PTSD symptoms. For individuals scoring low in narcissism there is no to negative correlation between PTG and PTSD symptoms. In contrast, for individuals high in narcissism there is a positive correlation between these two variables. The moderating effect of narcissism was found to operate through self-deception processes. Self-deception was related to PTG in individuals scoring high on narcissism and not in low-scoring individuals. ConclusionsIn individuals scoring low on narcissism, PTG might reflect an authentic non-deceptive experience and a low degree of or no PTSD symptoms, while in high-scoring individuals, it is associated with deceptive processes and PTSD symptoms, hinting at the non-adaptive nature of PTG in individuals scoring high in narcissism.