Atomangst

Utilizing complex statistical analyses, namely latent growth modeling, the long-term development of worries among peace movement supporters is examined. Data originate from a 7-wave German longitudinal study started in 1985 with the then on average 14-year-old subjects. Waves were interspersed at 3? year intervals. Activists are assumed to have lower (self-related) microworries (H1) and higher macroworries (concerned with larger entities; H2) than non-activists at the onset of the study. Non-activists who appraised the threat of nuclear war as high in 1985 are assumed to report worse mental health than their activist age mates 21 years later (H3). Activists are assumed to express relatively more macroworries than non-activists in mid-adulthood (H4). All four hypotheses were confirmed. Results are interpreted as evidence for the psychoanalytic argumentation by Leith?user that fear of global threats is likely to be displaced into personal anxiety if not coped with in the form of ??identifying participation?? in political action, suggesting that refraining from acting out against a perceived sociopolitical threat is a long-term risk for a positive mental-health trajectory.