Exploring pathways and obstacles to well-being in victims of terrorism: A qualitative approach

• Andrés Pemau ^[1] ; Carolina Marín-Martín ^[1] ; Gonzalo Hervás ^[1] ; María del Mar Gómez-Gutiérrez ^[1] ; María Crespo ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidad Complutense de Madrid

     Universidad Complutense de Madrid

     Madrid, España

     
• Localización: The Spanish Journal of Psychology, ISSN 1138-7416, Nº 26, 2023
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1017/SJP.2023.20
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen

  • On March 11, 2004, Madrid suffered one of the worst terrorist attacks in the history of Spain, leaving more than 190 dead and 2,000 injured. For years, the psychological consequences of the attacks have been studied; however, its long-term effects on symptomatology and especially on well-being remains unknown. This study aims to explore, through a qualitative approach, pathways and obstacles to the well-being of those affected directly or indirectly by the attacks of March 11 in Madrid. Two focus groups were held, one for indirect victims and one for direct victims. Subsequently, a thematic analysis of the materials obtained was carried out. More than 10 years after the attacks, most of the participants reported great difficulty in achieving well-being. Acceptance and victims’ associations seemed to act as key facilitators, while symptoms, political institutions and the media were the main obstacles. Direct and indirect victims presented similar data although aspects such as guilt and family relationships played a different role in their well-being.

• Referencias bibliográficas
  • Anderson, K. M., Renner, L. M., & Danis, F. S. (2012). Recovery: Resilience and growth in the aftermath of domestic violence. Violence...
  • Berle, D., Hilbrink, D., Russell-Williams, C., Kiely, R., Hardaker, L., Garwood, N., Gilchrist, A., & Steel, Z. (2018). Personal well-being...
  • Berntsen, D., & Rubin, D. C. (2007). When a trauma becomes a key to identity: Enhanced integration of trauma memories predicts posttraumatic...
  • Blanco, A., Blanco, R., & Díaz, D. (2016). Social (dis) order and psychosocial trauma: Look earlier, look outside, and look beyond the...
  • Bonfils, K. A., Lysaker, P. H., Yanos, P. T., Siegel, A., Leonhardt, B. L., James, A. V., Brustuen, B., Luedtke, B., & Davis, L. W. (2018)....
  • Bromet, E. J., Hobbs, M. J., Clouston, S. A. P., Gonzalez, A., Kotov, R., & Luft, B. J. (2016). DSM–IV post-traumatic stress disorder...
  • Brooks, S. K., Dunn, R., Amlôt, R., Rubin, G. J., & Greenberg, N. (2019). Protecting the psychological wellbeing of staff exposed to disaster...
  • Conejo-Galindo, J., Medina, Ó., Fraguas, D., Terán, S., Sainz-Cortón, E., & Arango, C. (2007). Psychopathological sequelae of the 11 March...
  • Davis, C. G., Wohl, M. J., & Verberg, N. (2007). Profiles of posttraumatic growth following an unjust loss. Death Studies, 31(8), 693–712....
  • Díaz, D., Stavraki, M., Blanco, A., & Bajo, M. (2018). 11–M victims 3 years after Madrid terrorist attacks: Looking for health beyond...
  • Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95(3), 542–547. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.95.3.542
  • Fredrickson, B. L., Tugade, M. M., Waugh, C. E., & Larkin, G. R. (2003). What good are positive emotions in crisis? A prospective study...
  • García-Vera, M. P., & Sanz, J. (2017). Psychopathological consequences of terrorism: The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder...
  • García-Vera, M. P., Sanz, J., & Gutiérrez, S. (2016). A systematic review of the literature on posttraumatic stress disorder in victims...
  • Haun, J. N., Duffy, A., Lind, J. D., Kisala, P., & Luther, S. L. (2016). Qualitative inquiry explores health-related quality of life of...
  • Johnson, A. E., North, C. S., & Pollio, D. E. (2017). Making meaning of the September 11 attacks: Spanish-and-Mandarin-speaking focus...
  • Marín, C., Hervás, G., Gómez, M., Crespo, M. & Vázquez, C. (2019). Psychological well-being in terrorism survivors [Unpublished manuscript]....
  • McKinlay, A. R., Fancourt, D., & Burton, A. (2021). A qualitative study about the mental health and wellbeing of older adults in the UK...
  • Morgan, D. L., & Krueger, R. A. (1993). When to use focus groups and why. In Morgan, D. L. & Krueger, R. A. (Eds.), Successful focus...
  • North, C. S., Barney, C. J., & Pollio, D. E. (2015). A focus group study of the impact of trauma exposure in the 9/11 terrorist attacks....
  • North, C. S., Pfefferbaum, B., Hong, B. A., Gordon, M. R., Kim, Y.-S., Lind, L., & Pollio, D. E. (2010). The business of healing: Focus...
  • North, C. S., Pollio, D. E., Pfefferbaum, B., Megivern, D., Vythilingam, M., Westerhaus, E. T., Martin, G. J., & Hong, B. A. (2005). Capitol...
  • Palmer, E., Murphy, D., & Spencer-Harper, L. (2017). Experience of post-traumatic growth in UK veterans with PTSD: A qualitative study....
  • Park, C. L. (2016). Meaning making in the context of disasters. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 72(12), 1234–1246. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22270
  • Propper, R. E., Stickgold, R., Keeley, R., & Christman, S. D. (2007). Is television traumatic?: Dreams, stress, and media exposure in...
  • Rimé, B., Páez, D., Basabe, N., & Martínez, F. (2010). Social sharing of emotion, post-traumatic growth, and emotional climate: Follow-up...
  • Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,...
  • Scandroglio, B., & López, J. (2007). De la investigación a la intervención psicosocial: La metodología cualitativa y su integración con...
  • Seligman, M. (2011). Flourish: A new understanding of happiness, well-being-and how to achieve them. Nicholas Brealey Pub.
  • Slade, M., Rennick-Egglestone, S., Blackie, L., Llewellyn-Beardsley, J., Franklin, D., Hui, A., Thornicroft, G., McGranahan, R., Pollock,...
  • Stevens, G. J., Dunsmore, J. C., Agho, K. E., Taylor, M. R., Jones, A. L., van Ritten, J. J., & Raphael, B. (2013). Long-term health and...
  • Thompson, R. W., Arnkoff, D. B., & Glass, C. R. (2011). Conceptualizing mindfulness and acceptance as components of psychological resilience...
  • Vázquez, C., & Hervás, G. (2010). Perceived benefits after terrorist attacks: The role of positive and negative emotions. The Journal...
  • Vazquez, C., & Hervas, G. (2012). Addressing current challenges in cross-cultural measurement of well-being: The Pemberton happiness index....
  • Westerhof, G. J., & Keyes, C. L. M. (2010). Mental illness and mental health: The two continua model across the lifespan. Journal of Adult...
  • Wilkinson, S. (1998). Focus group methodology: A review. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 1(3), 181–203. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.1998.10846874
  • Wilkinson, S. (2004). Focus group research. In Silverman, D. (Ed.), Qualitative research: Theory, method and practice (pp. 177–199). Sage...
  • Woodward, C., & Joseph, S. (2003). Positive change processes and post-traumatic growth in people who have experienced childhood abuse:...
  • World Health Organization. (2004). Promoting mental health: Concepts, emerging evidence, practice: Summary report/A report from the World...