Grief and Solidarity Reactions 1 Week After an On-Campus Shooting (original) (raw)
Related papers
Community Solidarity and Well-Being after the Virginia Tech Shootings
2011
In the aftermath of the rampage at Virginia Tech, the community experienced a surge of social solidarity. Using a longitudinal study of 478 students, this thesis examines the impact of attitudinal solidarity on well-being nine months after the shootings. In particular, this study focuses on the interaction effects of sex and solidarity on later well-being, providing a theoretical and empirical basis for understanding the connections between these factors. Quantitative analysis, conducted using linear regression with interaction variables, found that social solidarity four months after the shootings positively and significantly predicted well-being nine months after the shootings. The predictive power, however, was stratified by sex; women experienced diminished benefits of solidarity relative to their male counterparts. The literature suggests that this disparity may be attributed to additional social burdens placed on women after traumatic stressors. Other negative predictors of well-being include knowing victims and conversations with the media in the week after the attacks, This research has the potential to shed light on effective methods of responding to community-level trauma and may provide guidance to future policy-makers in when faced with these challenging situations.
Social Solidarity and Wellbeing after Critical Incidents: Three Cases of Mass Shootings
Critical incidents often result in amplified social solidarity among the members of a traumatized community. Some argue this solidarity accelerates recovery and supportive social environments decrease the likelihood of PTSD and other health problems after traumatic events. However, little research investigates if social solidarity influences wellbeing independent from the social support that accompanies heightened solidarity. That is, does feeling attached to a group protect one from negative events even if social support is lacking? We investigate the relationship between solidarity and wellbeing after tragedies by analyzing three mass shootings: a mall shooting in Omaha, Nebraska and two school shootings in Finland. Our results indicate that social solidarity decreases depressive symptomology in all three cases and promotes wellbeing in both the short and long-term. The influence of solidarity on wellbeing remains even when controlling for other known predictors of depression, including social support. Therefore, solidarity’s influence on wellbeing appears to be substantial and enduring. Importantly, our research also demonstrates that the relationship between solidarity and wellbeing holds across cultures.
Posttraumatic stress among students after the shootings at Virginia Tech
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 2011
(Virginia Tech) were shot, of whom 32 were killed. A cross-sectional survey of 4,639 Virginia Tech students was carried out the following summer/fall to assess PTSD symptoms using the Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ). High levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (probable PTSD) were experienced by 15.4% of respondents 3 to 4 months following the shooting. Exposure to trauma-related stressors varied greatly, from 64.5% unable to confirm the safety of friends to 9.1% who had a close friend killed. Odds ratios for stressors predicting high levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms were highest for losses (2.6-3.6; injury/death of someone close) and inability to confirm the safety of friends (2.5). Stressor effects were unrelated to age, gender, and race/ethnicity. The exposures that explained most of the cases of high posttraumatic stress symptoms were inability to confirm the safety of friends (30.7%); death of a (not close) friend (20.3%); and death of a close friend (10.1%).
2015
This study tested a conceptual model merging anxiety buffer disruption and social-cognitive theories to predict persistent grief severity among students who lost a close friend, significant other, and/or professor/teacher in tragic university campus shootings. A regression-based path model tested posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptom severity 3 to 4 months postshooting (Time 1) as a predictor of grief severity 1 year postshootings (Time 2), both directly and indirectly through cognitive processes (self-efficacy and disrupted worldview). Results revealed a model that predicted 61% of the variance in Time 2 grief severity. Hypotheses were supported, demonstrating that Time 1 PTS severity indirectly, positively predicted Time 2 grief severity through undermining self-efficacy and more severely disrupting worldview. Findings and theoretical interpretation yield important insights for future research and clinical application.
Journal of Social Work, 2011
Summary: Recent rampage shootings at schools have provoked intense academic discussion. While there have been two recent school shootings in Finland, there is not much empirical research focusing on these incidents. What is particularly lacking is research on community reaction to this type of mass violence. In this article, we take a look at the negative aspects of solidarity after a shooting incident in a small Finnish community of Jokela. We explore community experience on shootings through two types of empirical measures. The research material consists of a mail survey of the local residents and focused interviews of professional experts. Findings: Our results suggest that there was a rise in social solidarity after the shoot- ing tragedy. However, the increased level of solidarity was also followed by a variety of negative phenomena such as strengthened group divisions between youth and adults, social stigmatization, and feelings of collective guilt. These experiences are familiar in the cultural trauma processes. Applications: In general, the article points out that mass violence has long-term impact on people’s social engagement and interaction patterns. Similar processes can be argued to be particularly significant when studying relatively small communities. Keywords: cultural trauma, mass violence, recovery, social solidarity
Grief Reactions Among University Students. Research Report 5-72
1972
It was the purpose of this study to investigate possible ways that the University of Maryland, and particularly the student personnel and counseling staffs, could help students cope with the area of death and dying. Twenty-eight volunteer subjects from an introductory psychology class who had experienced the death of someone close to them completed the questionnaire anonymously.
A college community's vicarious stress reaction to September 11th terrorism
Traumatology, 2003
This study examined the effects of vicarious exposure to the September 11 terrorist attacks in an academic community, just after the three-month period that delineates acute from chronic posttraumatic stress. An entire academic community of 1693 students, faculty, and staff was surveyed electronically regarding their perceived stress symptoms and coping behaviors. The survey yielded a 37 percent response rate. About 76 percent showed one or more substantial symptoms of stress, and 32 percent showed three or more. The most prominent symptom clusters involved persistent avoidance and persistent arousal. Respondents primarily relied on coping through optimism, reassessing priorities and relationships, giving and receiving support, and becoming better informed on terrorism-related topics. Differences in symptoms and coping preferences were found based on sex, group (student, faculty, staff), and exposure to previous crisis. This study indicates that despite time and distance from the site of the terrorism, all segments of a college community continue to experience some degree of distress. Such distress can interfere with academic performance, personal health, and relationship stability. Rather than rely on formal support service delivery, most appear to rely on established interpersonal relationships. This suggests that providing support to vicarious victims in the future might emphasize training for friends and family, rather than relying on established service delivery systems.
Journal of College Student Development, 2015
Previous studies suggest the loss of a loved one is a common experience among college students. This paper draws from 2 independent but complementary studies to (a) update statistics regarding the scale of student grieving, (b) characterize the short and long term consequences of loss among college students, and (c) identify factors that deter grieving students from seeking professional assistance at campus counseling centers. he paper concludes with suggestions for ways in which institutions can help affected students stay on track to college success.
Acts of mass violence such as terrorist attacks or school shootings victimize more than those directly involved. Witness to these acts and members of the attacked community are at risk for increased levels of PTSD, depression, and other forms of mental distress.Research has clearly established that social support is critically important for recovering from such traumatic events (Galea et al. 2002; Johnson, North, & Smith, 2005; Ruzek et al, 2007) as being imbedded in a strong private network of friends and family can provide the emotional support survivors need to effectively cope with the tragedy (Hawdon and Ryan 2011). Given the increased use of e-mail, text messaging, and social networking sites among youth (Hinchcliffe & Gavin, 2009), it is likely that survivors of mass violence use technology to communicate with the members of their private networks (Dutta-Bergman, 2004). However, it is unclear if this “virtual interaction” can be as effective as face-to-face interaction in providing the needed support. Our research addresses this question using data collected after the2007 mass murder of 32 people at Virginia Tech. Using data collected from 543 Virginia Tech students, we predict levels of emotional and behavioral well-being five months after the shootings. Our central independent variables include measures of how frequently the students communicated with their friends and families in the week following the tragedy and if these communications were in person or “virtual.” Results indicate that face-to-face interaction significantly improved well-being; however, interacting with friends and family members through e-mail, text messaging, or some form of online communication was unrelated to well-being. Our findings highlight the importance of face-to-face interactions after acts of mass violence.