Exposure to @entity13390 , stress-related mental health symptoms, and XXXX among a nationally representative sample in Israel.

@entity1 @entity14469 @entity308 @entity146 @entity167 @entity1005 @entity13390
CONTEXT: The terrorist attacks on Israeli society have been ongoing since September 2000. However, few studies have examined the impact of @entity13390 on nationally representative population samples, and no study has examined the psychological impact of ongoing @entity13390 in Israel. OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of exposure to terrorist attacks and the prevalence of traumatic stress-related (TSR) symptoms, symptoms of @entity1005 ( @entity1005 ), and sense of safety after 19 months of @entity13390 in Israel, and to identify correlates of the psychological sequelae and the modes of coping with the @entity13390 . DESIGN, SETTING, AND @entity1 : Telephone survey conducted April-May 2002, using a strata sampling method, of 902 eligible households and a representative sample of 742 Israeli residents older than 18 years (82% contact rate) and a final participation of 512 (57%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of TSR symptoms, rates of those with symptom criteria for @entity1005 and @entity14469 assessed by the Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire, self-reported feelings of @entity308 , optimism, sense of safety, help-seeking, and modes of coping. RESULTS: Of 512 survey @entity1 , 84 (16.4%) had been directly exposed to a terrorist attack and 191 (37.3%) had a family member or friend who had been exposed. Of 510 @entity1 who responded to questions about TSR symptoms, 391 (76.7%) had at least 1 TSR symptom (mean, 4.0 [SD, 4.5]; range, 0-23; mean intensity, 0.8; range, 0-4). Symptom criteria for @entity1005 were met by 48 @entity1 (9.4%) and criteria for @entity14469 , by 1 @entity1 ; 299 (58.6%) reported feeling @entity308 . The majority of respondents expressed optimism about their personal future (421/512 [82.2%]) and the future of Israel (307/509 [66.8%]), and expressed self-efficacy with regard to their ability to function in a terrorist attack (322/431 [74.6%]). Most expressed a low sense of safety with respect to themselves (307/509 [60.4%]) and their relatives (345/507 [67.9%]). Few reported a need for professional help (27/506 [5.3%]). Female sex, sense of safety, and use of tranquilizers, @entity167 , and cigarettes to cope were associated with TSR symptoms and symptom criteria for @entity1005 ; level of exposure and objective risk were not. The most prevalent coping mechanisms were active information search about loved ones and social support. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the nature and length of the Israeli traumatic experience, the psychological impact may be considered moderate. Although the survey @entity1 showed distress and lowered sense of safety, they did not develop high levels of @entity146 , which may be related to a habituation process and to coping mechanisms.
