FRIDAY, Nov. 5, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- Women coping with work-related stress were more vulnerable than men to post 9/11 trauma, according to a University of Illinois at Chicago study.
The research found that women who dealt with daily job stress were especially vulnerable to anxiety symptoms and increased alcohol consumption following the 2001 terrorist attacks.
When they analyzed data from a longitudinal survey on workplace stress, the researchers concluded that women who reported sexual harassment, general abuse, or a sense of powerlessness in their jobs were more likely than men to experience mental health problems after 9/11.
"The term I use is 'cumulative adversity.' The major trauma of Sept. 11, combined with everyday stressful experiences, functioned to damage these women's psychological well-being," study author Judith Richman, a professor of epidemiology in the department of psychiatry, said in a prepared statement.
"Feelings of powerlessness and victimization on a massive scale in this one apocalyptic moment were compounded by the feelings of powerlessness generated by the daily experiences of interpersonal victimization," Richman said.
The study appears in the November issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
Richman said this study could help in the allocation of resources to deal with future major crises.
"To the extent that mental health resources are limited, this research will help professionals target those people most vulnerable to psychological distress following a major terrorist incident," Richman said.
More information
The U.S. National Mental Health Information Center has advice on how to cope with stress following a disaster.
