Terör Saldırılarına Maruz Kalma Düzeyi ile Risk Algısı ve Travma Tepkileri Arasındaki İlişkiyi Biçimlendiren Bireysel Etkenler

Abstract

Current study aimed at the investigation of the relation between type and level of exposure to terror attacks, terrorism risk perception and post-traumatic stress symptoms after the terror attack which occurred in Ankara on 13 March 2016. Additionally, roles of individual risk factors such as types of coping with stress, locus of control, positive and negative affect, and personality factors were assessed. Participants were undergraduate students of Hacettepe University who resided in Ankara at the time of the terror attack. The sample consisted of 240 female and 125 male participants. Questions which evaluated the type and level of exposure to terror attacks, Terrorism Risk Perception Survey, questions which evaluated post-traumatic stress symptoms and behavioral changes, Coping Style Scale, Locus of Control Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Big Five- 50 Personality Test were used as assessment measures. The correlations between variables were calculated. Mediatory and direct roles of the variables on traumatic stress symptoms were evaluated. Based on the results, it was found that while both direct and indirect exposure to terror attacks through media increased, the duration and severity of traumatic stress symptoms also increased. Increase in the usage of emotion focused coping styles lead to the increase in the duration and severity of traumatic stress symptoms and associated behavioral changes. On the other hand, increase in the usage of problem focused coping styles were associated with a decrease in the duration and severity of traumatic stress symptoms and behavioral changes. Submissive coping style was found to have a mediatory role for the relationship between indirect exposure to terror attack through media and the duration and severity of traumatic stress symptoms, and associated behavioral changes. Media following after the attack compared to previous had mediatory role in the relationship between the negative affect and the duration and severity of traumatic stress symptoms, associated behavioral changes. The results were discussed according to the existing literature.