September 21, 2001

Understanding Stress in Children Due to Terrorism

Children, especially young children, may experience a cascade of emotions when faced with stress resulting from exposure to the terrifying terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. says Sean Brotherson, North Dakota State University Extension family science specialist. "These emotions may include fear, anxiety, discouragement, isolation, and even anger. Such emotions may last over time and are best dealt with by kindness and understanding on the part of parents and other adults."

Children who express emotional strain due to the terrorist incidents may be responding to at least three sources of stress:

• They are dealing with the sudden and unexpected upheaval caused by the intensity and devastation of the attacks and the resulting societal challenges.
• They may have to cope with weeks or months of continuing disturbance in life routines because of media coverage, school security, etc.
• They may be responding to increased patterns of stress and difficulty felt by parents that changes the family’s patterns and emotional atmosphere.

The feelings and emotional reactions expressed by children under stress should be expected and are normal according to Brotherson. Children are especially anxious when they do not understand what is happening in the family or to their environment. Adults should be sensitive to this reality and reassure children.

"A child may ask a parent who flew recently if there were ‘bad guys’ on the airplane or may express anxiety about a parent’s travel plans," Brotherson says. "Children may experience increased parental distress, media coverage of the attacks or related conversations among adults as personally threatening or distressing. It is not unusual for children to be concerned about and even fearful of the impact on themselves or others they know."

Some common components of children’s emotional reactions may include:

• Shock – May not believe the problems are really happening.
• Physical Symptoms - May experience headaches or stomach problems.
• Anger – May focus on their own needs, be angry at parents or others who are responding to stress.
• Guilt – May worry that they have contributed to problems in some way.
• Fear – May wonder what will happen or fear being alone.
• Sadness - May show decrease in activity and tendency to withdraw.

Children may express stress differently according to age, maturity level and previous experience. Adults should pay attention to symptoms and behaviors that children may exhibit due to stress.

• Crying and whining – Children may become upset easily, cry frequently or unexpectedly and whine.
• Aggression – Children may feel out of control and become angry. They may yell, threaten, hit, kick or throw things without reason.
• Sleep problems – Children may be afraid of sleeping alone or being left and thus may have difficulty going to bed or napping. They may wake often and have troubled sleep or nightmares. They may want to sleep with parents or other persons.
• Fear of being alone – Children may fear being alone or separated from loved ones. They may refuse to go to school or child care, and may want to stay close to the parent or in the parent’s sight. They may feel neglect due to the adults around them being busy or stressed.
• Regressive behaviors – Children may exhibit behaviors they did while younger, such as thumb-sucking, clinging to adults, wetting the bed, etc. This pattern tends to indicate anxiety or insecurity.
• Illness – Children may be physically affected by stress, and may exhibit nausea, vomiting, headaches, stomach problems, fever or other symptoms of physical illness.
• Withdrawal or restlessness – Children may become quiet and withdrawn or may become more active and restless than usual. Changes in a child’s normal behavior pattern should be watched carefully.
• Feelings of loss – Children may express sadness or grief due to the losses they learn about and see experienced.

"Parents and other adults need to take the time to answer the questions posed by children, reassure them of their safety and security and provide them with opportunities to relieve the stress or anxiety that they may feel," Brotherson says.

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Source: Sean Brotherson, (701) 231-6143, sbrother@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, Richard.Mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu

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