These two special issues of Applied Developmental Science include eight major studies of the impacts of the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks on children, youth, and their parents. Issue 1 includes a report of the impact of September 11th on New York City youth in comparison with that of everyday violence, as well as three studies which demonstrate the impact of the attacks on the metal health and coping strategies of adolescents throughout the country, despite being physically distant from the event.

Issue 2 includes a study of separation anxiety in school age children in New York City following the attacks, the results from two national surveys of parents' roles in helping children respond to or process the attacks, and a study of the impact of such a "distant trauma" on rural youth.