A mixed-methods study utilized data from the World Trade Center Evacuation Study and recruited 29 survivors to self-report symptoms of PTSD using the PTSD checklist-civilian scale (PCL-C) and undergo semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis identified 5 protective factors that represented resilience and 8 risk factors that influenced the likelihood of developing PTSD symptoms amongst this cohort.
The article concludes that certain factors helped evacuation and were associated with low PCL-C scores. Helpful factors included staying in an effective group during the attack, using intuition, and experiencing good leadership. Individuals who displayed those qualities also tended to evacuate using their own direction. The researchers found that their conclusions were similar to those of studies done on how self efficacy impacts trauma recovery and how increased agency increases resiliency. This supports the idea that feeling in control helps recovery.
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