Regresar

Psychosocial correlates of participation in demonstrations after the march eleven terrorist attempt

Abstract:

This study examined the psychosocial correlates of the participation in secular political rituals around March-Eleven attacks. A questionnaire was completed by 1650 college students and their relatives (38%) in six Spanish cities and 8 universities, one week after the March-Eleven attacks in Madrid. Participants reporting a higher level of participation in demonstrations regarding March-Eleven one week after, show higher national identification and collective self-esteem, and report a higher level of pro-social behaviour, a lower level of helplessness and avoidance, and higher coping by means of social support, social sharing, exposition to mass media and ruminations. Participants also report a higher level of Schwartz’s Security and Benevolence values, and high Belief in a Benevolent social world. Higher levels of participation in demonstrations one week after are associated to higher perceived collective coping, higher emotional collective reactions, but also to a more positively perceived emotional and social climate. Only direct participation is associated to higher personal and collective self-efficacy, altruistic or pro-social behaviour and reinforced positive collective emotions and cohesion—and was not related to negative emotional climate. © 2005 by Fundación Infancia y Aprendizaje.