A terrorist threat experienced by student youth

The paper discusses the problem of experiencing a terrorist threat in youth on the example of Moscow students. The authors reveal and justify the connection between the intensity of a terrorist threat emotion and the nature of coping behavior, basic beliefs, as well as the features of the socio-psychological personal adaptation of the research participants. The analysis of the results allowed the authors to draw conclusions about the intensity of the subjective experience of a terrorist threat, which for most of the respondents remains at an average level. It was also possible to establish the existence of a connection between the intensity of the experience of a terrorist threat and the nature of their basic beliefs (the higher the faith in the kindness and meaningfulness of the world, the more intense the emotions) and the characteristics of the socio-psychological adaptation of young people (the less young people tend to take responsibility, the more conformal and easily-led they are, the more difficult for them to live through a terrorist threat). The study revealed a tendency for two coping strategies to prevail: “escape-avoidance” (with a high level of emotions) and “self-control” (with a low level of emotions). The data obtained can be useful in situations of psychological counseling, psychotherapy, psychological assistance, as well as in the framework of the psychological services of educational organizations. In addition, the data can be used in training programs for specialists in assisting professions.