Poll: Teens Remain Fearful Over 9/11

Sept. 9 -- A year after Sept. 11, fright, fear, and anger linger among millions of American teenagers. Yet brighter sentiments are the broadest, including optimism, confidence, national pride and a prevailing sense of safety, even in these times.

An ABCNEWS poll finds six in 10 teens remain frightened about the attacks and scared that more might occur. Of greatest concern, perhaps, are those who express high-level anxiety: Anywhere from 15 percent to 25 percent are "very" confused and frightened about what happened, "very" scared about more attacks and "very" worried about being victimized.

But these high-level concerns have eased in the last year; indeed for nearly all teens, the initial shock clearly has subsided. While 38 percent say they had trouble sleeping in the immediate days after last Sept. 11, just 2 percent report trouble sleeping now as a result of the terrorist attacks.

Also, this poll finds substantial, 16- to 21-point drops in the number of teens who say they're frightened or confused about what happened, scared about more attacks, or worried they might be victims of terrorism (down now to 28 percent, including 15 percent "very" worried).

Just two emotions measured in this poll haven't subsided, both almost universally held: Ninety-two percent of teenagers say they're angry with the perpetrators of the Sept. 11 attacks. And 88 percent say they're confident in the United States' response.

These results come from an ABCNEWS telephone survey of a random national sample of 12- to 17-year-olds, done as part of ABC's daylong coverage of the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. (Note: For convenience, this analysis includes 12-year-olds in the term "teens.")

Optimism and Pride Remain

Whatever fears linger, the attacks failed to shake the fundamentally positive attitudes of the vast majority of American teens. Eight in 10 call themselves optimistic about the nation's future, and a smashing 93 percent are optimistic about their personal future. Nearly nine in 10 call themselves proud to be Americans.

And despite the new face of terrorism, nearly all teens — 96 percent — feel safe in their day-to-day lives, including 58 percent who feel "very" safe. (Younger respondents, ages 12-14, are substantially more apt to feel "very" safe — one of several sizable differences between older and younger children, reflecting their differing maturity and awareness.)

Majorities of teens also say they'd feel safe in a variety of places that may seem more vulnerable since Sept. 11 — a crowded place like a shopping mall (84 percent would feel safe), a tall building (72 percent), a big city (67 percent) or on an airplane (63 percent).

But quite a bit fewer — anywhere from 19 percent to 36 percent — say they'd feel "very" safe in any of these. And there is a Sept. 11 effect: Those who were frightened by the attacks, or scared about more attacks, are much more apt to say they'd feel unsafe flying.