Faculty Collaboration Database

Effects on alcohol use and anxiety of the September 11, 2001, attacks and chronic work stressors: a longitudinal cohort study. Am J Public Health 2004 Nov;94(11):2010-5

Date

10/30/2004

Pubmed ID

15514245

Pubmed Central ID

PMC1448577

DOI

10.2105/ajph.94.11.2010

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that chronic stressors associated with an everyday social role (work) would interact with a traumatic macrosocial stressor (the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001) in predicting mental health status (during the fall of 2001).

METHODS: We used mail surveys returned as part of wave 3 of a workplace cohort study, both before and after September 11, 2001, to assess decision latitude, sexual harassment, generalized workplace abuse, psychological distress, and alcohol use. We also used regression analyses to assess the main effect of September 11 and interactions between September 11 and stressors, after control for baseline mental health.

RESULTS: The main effect of September 11 on elevated alcohol use was significant for women but not for men. For women, work stressors significantly interacted with experiencing the events of September 11 to affect alcohol use and anxiety outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Women experiencing chronic work stressors were most vulnerable to elevated psychological distress and alcohol use after September 11, 2001.

Author List

Richman JA, Wislar JS, Flaherty JA, Fendrich M, Rospenda KM

Author

Michael Fendrich PhD Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Alcohol Drinking
Anxiety
Chi-Square Distribution
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
September 11 Terrorist Attacks
Sex Factors
Stress, Psychological
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States
Work