May 20, 2002
For Information Contact: Ted Apostol
(602) 707-0050
Impact of Terrorism Continuesto Shape Arizona Family Life
PHOENIX - The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 continue to have far-reaching impact on Arizonans, particularly in the amount of time spent with family and increased respect toward military personnel, firefighters and police. A just-released study of 407 Arizona adults by WestGroup Research of Phoenix showed that 24% of all respondents said the amount of time they spend with their families has increased.
In addition, three out of five Arizonans (59%) said they have increased respect for firefighters. About half of all Arizona respondents said their respect has increased for military personnel, police officers, airline pilots, and flight attendants.
WestGroup's WestTrack omnibus study for April showed the majority of respondents (58%) said the terrorism against the United States had changed their families. The middle age group (30 to 49) has been affected most - 68% said it had changed them. Among those changed, 49% mentioned negative changes and 41% mentioned positive changes. (Positive changes were most pronounced among people who earn less than $25,000 a year -- 63%.)
The impact was more pronounced as income increased - only 44% of those earning less than $25,000 thought their family had changed, compared to 69% of those earning more than $75,000.
On the positive side, many Arizonans reported changes for the better. They feel they are now more aware of the world and people around them (17%). Some feel more patriotic, more friendly, closer to their family, and generally more appreciative.
Conversely, some reported negative changes. About one out of eight (13%) said they don't like to fly any more. Nearly as many said they are more cautious now (12%). Some reported lost jobs or lost business (9%). This economic impact may have hit younger families harder - of the respondents under the age of 30 who said they had experienced changes, 27% said the result was lost jobs.
Another change has been lost sleep. Some 12% of all respondents said
they now have more trouble sleeping. Those most affected were respondents
with their main household income source from "blue collar" jobs
(23%).
Would you say Nine Eleven has changed you and your family in any way?
In what way has Nine Eleven changed you and your family?
Since Nine Eleven would you say your respect has increased, stayed the same, or decreased for…
Research Results—Background Information
Each month WestGroup Research conducts WestTrack,
an omnibus poll, with Arizona residents. The following findings are a
portion of the results of the non-proprietary questions posed in the January
phase of the WestTrack polling (to residents of metro Phoenix). The research
was designed by WestGroup analysts and
conducted by WestGroup interviewers at the state-of-the-art
phone bank in the firm’s Phoenix offices. The research was conducted
from January 5th through January 25th.
