Terrorism in Two Cultures: Stress and Growth Following September 11 and the Madrid Train Bombings

Abstract
In this study, we compared the prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth following the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States and the March 11, 2004, Madrid, Spain train bombings. We also examined meaning in life as a correlate of posttrauma outcomes. A sample of midwestern college students (N = 188) reported less PTSD symptom severity following September 11 than did a sample of college students from southern Spain (N = 48) following the Madrid bombings. Americans reported more positive change than Spaniards following terrorism. Meaning in life was related to more positive outcomes in both countries.