Comparing life satisfaction and functioning 15 years after September 11, 2001 among survivors with and without injuries: a mixed-method study

Lisa M. Gargano; Ho Ki Mok; Melanie H. Jacobson; Patricia Frazier; Sascha K. Garrey; Lysa J. Petrsoric; Robert M. Brackbill

doi:10.1007/s11136-019-02194-w

Comparing life satisfaction and functioning 15 years after September 11, 2001 among survivors with and without injuries: a mixed-method study

Lisa M. Gargano, Ho Ki Mok, Melanie H. Jacobson, Patricia Frazier, Sascha K. Garrey, Lysa J. Petrsoric, Robert M. Brackbill

Psychology (Twin Cities)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Purpose: This study compares life satisfaction and limited activity days among 9/11 survivors with and without physical injuries using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Methods: The study population included World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees who reported being injured on 9/11 in 2003–2004 and a sample of non-injured enrollees who participated in a cross-sectional substudy. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine differences in life satisfaction and number of limited activity days in the last 30 days between those with and without injuries. The free-response section of the survey was analyzed qualitatively to compare themes of those with and without injuries. Results: The final sample consisted of 2821 adult enrollees. Compared to those who were not injured, those who were injured on 9/11 were more likely to report being unsatisfied with their life (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.5, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.1–2.0) and have 14 or more limited activity days in the last 30 days (AOR: 1.4, 95% CI 1.0–1.9). Among those who were injured, being partially or completely prevented from working increased the odds of being unsatisfied with life and having 14 or more limited activity days. In qualitative analysis, the emotional trauma experienced from 9/11 was a major and common theme, regardless of injury status. Those with injuries were more likely to express anger/lack of recognition/appreciation, describe substance use/abuse, and have financial/health care access issues. Conclusions: More than 15 years after 9/11, those who were injured continue to be impacted, reporting lower life satisfaction and more functional impairment.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	2787-2797
Number of pages	11
Journal	Quality of Life Research
Volume	28
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-019-02194-w
State	Published - Oct 1 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Ms. Sharon Perlman and Drs. Charon Gwynn and James Hadler for their helpful comments. This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement Numbers 2U50/OH009739 and 5U50/OH009739 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); U50/ATU272750 from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), CDC, which included support from the National Center for Environmental Health, CDC; and by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH, CDC or the Department of Health and Human Services.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Keywords

Injury
Life satisfaction
Qualitative
Quality of life
World Trade Center

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Publisher link

10.1007/s11136-019-02194-w

Find It

Find It at U of M Libraries

Cite this

@article{d8e64f6f8f434ecd9c2bdff329c587f5,

title = "Comparing life satisfaction and functioning 15 years after September 11, 2001 among survivors with and without injuries: a mixed-method study",

abstract = "Purpose: This study compares life satisfaction and limited activity days among 9/11 survivors with and without physical injuries using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Methods: The study population included World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees who reported being injured on 9/11 in 2003–2004 and a sample of non-injured enrollees who participated in a cross-sectional substudy. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine differences in life satisfaction and number of limited activity days in the last 30 days between those with and without injuries. The free-response section of the survey was analyzed qualitatively to compare themes of those with and without injuries. Results: The final sample consisted of 2821 adult enrollees. Compared to those who were not injured, those who were injured on 9/11 were more likely to report being unsatisfied with their life (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.5, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.1–2.0) and have 14 or more limited activity days in the last 30 days (AOR: 1.4, 95% CI 1.0–1.9). Among those who were injured, being partially or completely prevented from working increased the odds of being unsatisfied with life and having 14 or more limited activity days. In qualitative analysis, the emotional trauma experienced from 9/11 was a major and common theme, regardless of injury status. Those with injuries were more likely to express anger/lack of recognition/appreciation, describe substance use/abuse, and have financial/health care access issues. Conclusions: More than 15 years after 9/11, those who were injured continue to be impacted, reporting lower life satisfaction and more functional impairment.",

keywords = "Injury, Life satisfaction, Qualitative, Quality of life, World Trade Center",

author = "Gargano, {Lisa M.} and Mok, {Ho Ki} and Jacobson, {Melanie H.} and Patricia Frazier and Garrey, {Sascha K.} and Petrsoric, {Lysa J.} and Brackbill, {Robert M.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Ms. Sharon Perlman and Drs. Charon Gwynn and James Hadler for their helpful comments. This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement Numbers 2U50/OH009739 and 5U50/OH009739 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); U50/ATU272750 from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), CDC, which included support from the National Center for Environmental Health, CDC; and by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH, CDC or the Department of Health and Human Services. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.",

year = "2019",

month = oct,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1007/s11136-019-02194-w",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "28",

pages = "2787--2797",

journal = "Quality of Life Research",

issn = "0962-9343",

publisher = "Springer Netherlands",

number = "10",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Comparing life satisfaction and functioning 15 years after September 11, 2001 among survivors with and without injuries

T2 - a mixed-method study

AU - Gargano, Lisa M.

AU - Mok, Ho Ki

AU - Jacobson, Melanie H.

AU - Frazier, Patricia

AU - Garrey, Sascha K.

AU - Petrsoric, Lysa J.

AU - Brackbill, Robert M.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Ms. Sharon Perlman and Drs. Charon Gwynn and James Hadler for their helpful comments. This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement Numbers 2U50/OH009739 and 5U50/OH009739 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); U50/ATU272750 from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), CDC, which included support from the National Center for Environmental Health, CDC; and by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH, CDC or the Department of Health and Human Services. Publisher Copyright: © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

PY - 2019/10/1

Y1 - 2019/10/1

N2 - Purpose: This study compares life satisfaction and limited activity days among 9/11 survivors with and without physical injuries using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Methods: The study population included World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees who reported being injured on 9/11 in 2003–2004 and a sample of non-injured enrollees who participated in a cross-sectional substudy. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine differences in life satisfaction and number of limited activity days in the last 30 days between those with and without injuries. The free-response section of the survey was analyzed qualitatively to compare themes of those with and without injuries. Results: The final sample consisted of 2821 adult enrollees. Compared to those who were not injured, those who were injured on 9/11 were more likely to report being unsatisfied with their life (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.5, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.1–2.0) and have 14 or more limited activity days in the last 30 days (AOR: 1.4, 95% CI 1.0–1.9). Among those who were injured, being partially or completely prevented from working increased the odds of being unsatisfied with life and having 14 or more limited activity days. In qualitative analysis, the emotional trauma experienced from 9/11 was a major and common theme, regardless of injury status. Those with injuries were more likely to express anger/lack of recognition/appreciation, describe substance use/abuse, and have financial/health care access issues. Conclusions: More than 15 years after 9/11, those who were injured continue to be impacted, reporting lower life satisfaction and more functional impairment.

AB - Purpose: This study compares life satisfaction and limited activity days among 9/11 survivors with and without physical injuries using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Methods: The study population included World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees who reported being injured on 9/11 in 2003–2004 and a sample of non-injured enrollees who participated in a cross-sectional substudy. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine differences in life satisfaction and number of limited activity days in the last 30 days between those with and without injuries. The free-response section of the survey was analyzed qualitatively to compare themes of those with and without injuries. Results: The final sample consisted of 2821 adult enrollees. Compared to those who were not injured, those who were injured on 9/11 were more likely to report being unsatisfied with their life (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.5, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.1–2.0) and have 14 or more limited activity days in the last 30 days (AOR: 1.4, 95% CI 1.0–1.9). Among those who were injured, being partially or completely prevented from working increased the odds of being unsatisfied with life and having 14 or more limited activity days. In qualitative analysis, the emotional trauma experienced from 9/11 was a major and common theme, regardless of injury status. Those with injuries were more likely to express anger/lack of recognition/appreciation, describe substance use/abuse, and have financial/health care access issues. Conclusions: More than 15 years after 9/11, those who were injured continue to be impacted, reporting lower life satisfaction and more functional impairment.

KW - Injury

KW - Life satisfaction

KW - Qualitative

KW - Quality of life

KW - World Trade Center

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065698701&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85065698701&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s11136-019-02194-w

DO - 10.1007/s11136-019-02194-w

M3 - Article

C2 - 31073819

AN - SCOPUS:85065698701

SN - 0962-9343

VL - 28

SP - 2787

EP - 2797

JO - Quality of Life Research

JF - Quality of Life Research

IS - 10

ER -