The Impact of 9/11 on Youth: Mental Health, Substance Use & Other Risk Behaviors

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The purpose of this investigation is to improve understanding of the effects of children's direct exposure to 9/11 and future mental health disorders, substance use or abuse and other risky behaviors as they now enter into adolescence and emerging adulthood. Based on the behavioral development literature, our city-wide assessment of children 6 months after 9/11 and the numerous findings of post- 9/11 consequences amidst exposed adults, there is strong evidence to suggest that exposure to 9/11 early in life would increase directly exposed children's vulnerability within the domains of interet in this investigation. Unfortunately, to date, the science-base of post-disaster behavioral consequences for youth, including those who were 9/11 exposed as children, lacks a longitudinal assessment, that includes in-depth measurement of the multiple, complex relevant domains, from type and severity of exposure to well-defined behavioral outcomes and intrapersonal, familial, academic and environmental factors. The proposed study will assess 1,000 children directly exposed to 9/11 at ages 0-12 and currently ages 12- 24, drawn from the World Trade Center Health Registry (WTCHR) Pediatric sample, who will be compared to unexposed Controls (N=500). The study involves a synergistic collaboration between the Child Psychiatric Epidemiology Group (CPEG) at Columbia University-Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene and the WTCHR. The WTCHR has longitudinal data on this population since 2002-2003, including excellent participant tracking information. CPEG has conducted many large-scale assessments of vulnerable youth, including 9/11 exposed children and their parents, addressing themes of high