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Crisis-induced depression, physical activity and dietary intake among young adults: Evidence from the 9/11 terrorist attacks

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  • Wang, Yang
  • Yang, Muzhe

Abstract

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we provide evidence that young adults respond to crisis-induced depression by exercising less and having breakfast less often. Exogenous variation in the crisis-induced depression is obtained through a unique event in our sample period – the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We compare those who were interviewed just before and just after 9/11 and find a significant and sharp increase in the symptoms of depression. We also provide evidence that this increase is not a September effect, but an effect of the external traumatic event.

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  • Wang, Yang & Yang, Muzhe, 2013. "Crisis-induced depression, physical activity and dietary intake among young adults: Evidence from the 9/11 terrorist attacks," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 11(2), pages 206-220.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:11:y:2013:i:2:p:206-220
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2012.08.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Young-Il Kim & Dongyoung Kim, 2016. "Mental Health Cost Of Terrorism: Study Of The Charlie Hebdo Attack In Paris," Working Papers 1613, Nam Duck-Woo Economic Research Institute, Sogang University (Former Research Institute for Market Economy).
    2. Dongyoung Kim & Young‐I1 Albert Kim, 2018. "Mental health cost of terrorism: Study of the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(1), pages 1-14, January.
    3. O'Donohue, Katelyn & Berger, Emily & McLean, Louise & Carroll, Matthew, 2021. "Psychological outcomes for young adults after disastrous events: A mixed-methods scoping review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    4. Dave, Dhaval M. & Friedson, Andrew I. & Matsuzawa, Kyutaro & Sabia, Joseph J. & Safford, Samuel, 2020. "Black Lives Matter Protests, Social Distancing, and COVID-19," IZA Discussion Papers 13388, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Yubin Ding & Junling Xu & Sisi Huang & Peipei Li & Cuizhen Lu & Shenghua Xie, 2020. "Risk Perception and Depression in Public Health Crises: Evidence from the COVID-19 Crisis in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Dhaval M. Dave & Andrew I. Friedson & Kyutaro Matsuzawa & Joseph J. Sabia & Samuel Safford, 2020. "Black Lives Matter Protests and Risk Avoidance: The Case of Civil Unrest During a Pandemic," NBER Working Papers 27408, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    9/11; Depression; Physical activity; Dietary intake; Young adults;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General

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