Narrative, Meaning, and Resilience: Towards a Deeper Understanding of Social Workers' Experience of September 11, 2001

Authors

John P. McTighe, Sacred Heart UniversityFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

9-2009

Abstract

This study is a secondary analysis of data from a large mixed methods investigation. It examined the thematic categories of meaning-making contained in the written narratives of 139 clinical social workers living and working in New York City on September 11, 2001 concerning their personal and professional experience of the events surrounding the attack on the World Trade Center. It then examined the relationship of these categories to participants' scores on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Qualitative analysis revealed thematic content related to personal growth and benefit found in the wake of 9/11, the ongoing experience of adversity, and professional growth and lessons learned. No significant relationship was found between categories of meaning-making and participants' scores on the resilience scale. Significant relationships were found between resilience subscales and the covariates of age, years of practice experience, personal witnessing of 9/11 and experience of a major loss during 9/11. Implications for theory, practice, policy and future research are suggested.

Comments

Thesis (Ph. D.)--New York University, 2009.

ISBN 9781109264951

Recommended Citation

McTighe, John. Narrative, Meaning, and Resilience: Towards a Deeper Understanding of Social Workers' Experience of September 11, 2001. Diss. New York University, 2009.