A Correlational Study of Family Stress and Adaptation Among the Surviving Parents of the New York City Firemen Who Perished in the World Trade Center Disaster
Fran McGibbon
New York City College of Technology School of Nursing
Fran McGibbon is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Family Nurse Practitioner with a practice in Manhattan, as well as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at The New York City College of Technology in New York. She has been a practicing nurse for 40 years. She began her nursing career as an Operating Room Nurse at Bellevue Hospital and North Shore University Hospital in New York. She has taught full time since 1995. She began her teaching career at Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing.Since 1995, she was the first Registered Nurse First Assistant in NYC. She continued her education at Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, and received a DNP degree. In addition, she was invited to continue her research efforts at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Here, she wrote her paper on First Responders. She continues to pursue research in the area of public policy.
Abstract
The aftermath of the Word Trade Center Disaster (WTCD) has taken a tremendous emotional toll on New Yorkers’, in particular for the parents of the 343 New York City Fireman who gave their lives on September 11th, 2001. ... [ view full abstract ]
The aftermath of the Word Trade Center Disaster (WTCD) has taken a tremendous emotional toll on New Yorkers’, in particular for the parents of the 343 New York City Fireman who gave their lives on September 11th, 2001. These parents have spent the last 15 years dealing with the impact this stressful life event has had on themselves and on their own family. At no point in American history, has a disaster of this magnitude, receiving so much media attention, and occurring within our own boarders impacted American families so profoundly.
Stress on individual family members has long been identified as a negative disrupting factor in family homeostasis and on individual health status. This paper examines the relationship between personal family stress and the health status of these parents’ since that eventful day in September of 2001. The Double ABCX Model of Family Stress is used as a framework for this study. The proposed study will be met by answering the following research question: What is the relationship between family stress and stress-related health problems for the parents of the New York City Firemen who died in the World Trade Center Disaster?
This correlation study was a one-event data collection with the parents of the deceased firemen. The instruments used to collect the data are: The CDC Health Assessment, the Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes (FILE) and a Demographic Data Sheet. These instruments were mailed by and returned to the New York City Fire Department’s Counseling Unit. However, only the responsible investigators had access to the data. The analysis of this data revealed significant correlations between the variables of family stress and several stress-related health problems. This study demonstrated how important this type of research is to understanding the impact stress could have on vulnerable populations.
Authors
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Fran McGibbon
(New York City College of Technology School of Nursing)
Topic Area
Adult Healthcare
Session
GP-1 » Global Perspectives (15:00 - Wednesday, 4th November, Seminar Room 1.26)
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