World Trade Center disaster and sensitization to subsequent life stress: A longitudinal study of disaster responders

Michael J. Zvolensky, Samantha G. Farris, Roman Kotov, Clyde B. Schechter, Evelyn Bromet, Adam Gonzalez, Anka Vujanovic, Robert H. Pietrzak, Michael Crane, Julia Kaplan, Jacqueline Moline, Steven M. Southwick, Adriana Feder, Iris Udasin, Dori B. Reissman, Benjamin J. Luft

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The current study examined the role of World Trade Center (WTC) disaster exposure (hours spent working on the site, dust cloud exposure, and losing friend/loved one) in exacerbating the effects of post-disaster life stress on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and overall functioning among WTC responders. Method: Participants were 18,896 responders (8466 police officers and 10,430 non-traditional responders) participating in the WTC Health Program who completed an initial examination between July, 2002 and April, 2010 and were reassessed an average of two years later. Results:Among police responders, there was a significant interaction, such that the effect of post-disaster life stress on later PTSD symptoms and overall functioning was stronger among police responders who had greater WTC disaster exposure (β'. s= .029 and .054, respectively, for PTSD symptoms and overall functioning). This moderating effect was absent in non-traditional responders. Across both groups, post-disaster life stress also consistently was related to the dependent variables in a more robust manner than WTC exposure. Discussion: The present findings suggest that WTC exposure may compound post-disaster life stress, thereby resulting in a more chronic course of PTSD symptoms and reduced functioning among police responders.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)70-74
Number of pages5
JournalPreventive Medicine
Volume75
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2015

Keywords

  • Disaster
  • Functioning
  • Posttraumatic stress
  • Responder
  • Stress exposure
  • Trauma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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