Posted on March 20, 2002 at 11:30 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Fifty-one percent of Birmingham area residents say they expect another terrorist attack in the United States within the year. Nearly 40 percent say they have experienced more fear and anxiety since viewing television coverage of the terrorist attacks on September 11, while a majority, nearly 60 percent, believe there is nothing they can do to avoid becoming a victim of terrorism.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Communication Studies Department polled 401 residents in Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, Walker and St. Clair counties about their reactions to the attacks and the war on terrorism. The poll was conducted March 11-14, six months after the attacks, and had a margin of error of ± 4.9 percentage points.

“There is an element of fear that’s still out there,” said Larry Powell, Ph.D., an associate professor of communication studies at UAB who conducted the poll along with UAB communication studies instructor William Self, Ph.D. “Nearly two out of every five people say they have experienced more fear and anxiety following the September 11 attacks. Forty-three percent of women reported feeling more fear and anxiety, while 27 percent of men polled said they have experienced more fear and anxiety. A quarter of those polled said they altered their activities following the attacks.”

On the question of how the right to privacy has been affected since the attacks, 56 percent said they believe privacy rights have been limited in some way and about a quarter of those polled said their own personal privacy has been limited since the attacks. Regarding privacy rights, a racial gap was apparent, Powell said. Sixty-one percent of African-Americans believe privacy rights have been limited since the attacks. Fewer whites, 54 percent, believe the privacy rights have been limited.

The poll showed, however, that an overwhelming majority of Birmingham area residents support the Bush administration’s military actions against terrorism, Powell said. Ninety percent of those polled said they support the administration’s actions.

Responses to Individual Questions

As you know, on September 11 of last year, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center and another into the Pentagon. The second crash into the World Trade Center was broadcast live on TV. Did you happen to see that second crash live or did you first see it when it was replayed later?

Would you say media coverage of the September 11 attacks was too much, about the right amount, or too little considering the seriousness of the event?

Do you believe there will be another terrorist attack within the United States some time during this year?

Have you experienced more fear and anxiety since viewing TV coverage of those jets hitting the World Trade Center?

What about other people? Do you think most other Americans have experienced more fear and anxiety after since the attacks?

Do you support the military action against terrorism at least to the extent that it has been used up to this time?

Did you alter any of your scheduled activities in the days after September 11 because of the attacks?

Do you think that your personal privacy has been limited in some way since the attacks?

Do you think the privacy rights of others have been limited in some way since the attacks?

How much have you discussed the September 11 attacks with your friends, neighbors or co-workers?

Do you think the government is providing enough information to keep Americans informed about the war on terrorism?

Do you feel there is anything that you can do to avoid being a victim of a terrorist attack that might occur in the future?