The Effects of Indirect Exposure to September 11th–Related Trauma on Cardiovascular Reactivity

Direct and indirect exposure to trauma is related to cardiovascular reactivity to stress, which is a marker for the future development of cardiovascular disease. The current study compared the effects of indirect exposure and no exposure (assessed via self-reports) to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on cardiovascular reactivity among a sample of 31 New Yorkers. Cardiovascular responses, measured every 2 minutes during baseline, a semistructured interview in which they relived a personally relevant aspect of the terrorist attack, and recovery periods revealed that the indirect exposure group had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure levels at baseline (p < .01), task (p < .05), and recovery (p < .05) than the no exposure group. No differences in trauma symptoms were observed between the two groups. Results suggest that indirect exposure to a traumatic event may have an impact on physiological responses to stress.