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Really Listen to College Students' Reactions to NIU Tragedy |
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From Ascribe Newsfeed: Friends and family members of college students should provide a listening ear regarding students' fears and concerns about the Northern Illinois University tragedy, says a Purdue University expert who studied how college students coped with 9/11. "My research suggests that many college students are experiencing some degree of emotional distress as a consequence of the Northern Illinois University shootings," says Erina MacGeorge, an associate professor of communication who studies the role of comforting in relationships. On Thursday (Feb. 14), a former graduate student killed five people and himself on the Northern Illinois University campus. "The intense media coverage, just as we saw with 9/11, makes such an event seem even closer to home," MacGeorge says. Those lending an ear should be attentive listeners who validate the student's feelings, she says. "Friends and family members should also watch out for students who may be showing symptoms of severe distress, such as being unusually upset, not sleeping well or experiencing difficulty concentrating. In such cases, professional counseling is likely needed." MacGeorge's article "After 9/11: Goal Disruption, Emotional Support and Psychological Health in a Lower Exposure Sample," is in press for the Health Communication journal. In the study, she surveyed more than 500 college students during the first two weeks of December 2001 about the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. AScribe transmits news releases directly to newsroom computer systems and desktops of major media organizations via a supremely trusted channel - The Associated Press.
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