BBC Thursday, 11 October, 2001, 06:13 GMT 07:13 UK

Survey shows US post-attack blues

The attacks are likely to have long-term effects By BBC Science's Julian Siddle

A month after the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, a new survey entitled How America Responds has been looking at the psychological effects on US citizens.

It shows that many people are feeling both depressed about what happened and worried for the future.

The survey, conducted by the Institute for Social Research at Michigan University, attempted to quantify the way in which the events of 11 September have affected people's daily lives.

More than 66% of people surveyed said they had trouble concentrating, 52% said they felt depressed and 62% reported sleeplessness.

These findings support the predictions which psychologists made soon after the attack.

They warned of long term consequences for people's mental health, and made comparisons with the after-effects of war and natural disasters, where the events can etch themselves into people's minds, causing recurring trauma for years to come.

Positive outcome

However the survey also pointed to an increase in patriotic feeling and a decrease in racism.

Ninety per cent said they were proud to be Americans, and positive ratings of non-whites were up on previous surveys.

Psychologists say the attacks brought people together, producing feelings of a more cohesive, inclusive society, as the shock of the events was shared by all.

Questions about the political context of the attack produced a range of diverse responses. Sixty-four per cent thought it could have been linked to US support for Israel, 62% blamed US involvement in the Persian Gulf and about half thought it part of ongoing Muslim-Christian conflict.

The survey also hinted at a change in perceptions of personal freedom. When asked about fears for their own safety, 76% expressed a willingness to allow civil liberties to be eroded and supported moves for increased surveillance and random police checks to ensure greater security.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001