Experience of Victims of Brussels' Terrorists Attacks: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Although there is a significant amount of literature on the impact of terrorist attacks on victims, very little research has focused on the subjective experience of these victims. Therefore, this article aims to reveal how direct victims of the Brussels' terrorist attacks are living their lives 18 to 24 months after these events. It explores how the victims have made sense of this traumatic event and how they are coping with what happened and with the impact left by this event. Ten adults who directly experienced the bomb attacks in Brussels on 22 March 2016 were recruited. Semistructured interviews were conducted and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The results show how much the terrorist threat is still present in the mind of victims. The emotional impact of terrorism is strong and sustainable, with central emotions, such as fear, guilt, and anger. The participants expressed their sense of a changed self and how their social relationships have been influenced, particularly by there being a distance between them and others. The professional sphere and leisure activities have also been deeply impacted by the personal experience of the victims. Social support was considered primordial in recovery, and the victims have developed a large variety of coping strategies to face their traumatic experiences. However, the victims were also confronted with a lack of consideration and respect from society, government, and health care professionals, while they insist on their need for public recognition.