Social sharing, participation in demonstrations, emotional climate, and coping with collective violence after the March 11th Madrid bombings

This study examined how social sharing and participating in secular political rituals regarding the March-Eleven (M-11) 2004 train bombings in Madrid, Spain, helps to cope with the wounds of trauma and enhances the reconstruction of a positive emotional climate. A questionnaire was completed by college students (63 % of sample) and their relatives (37%) (N = 661) from five Spanish regions and eight universities at 1, 3, and 8 weeks after the bombing. Participating in demonstrations and experiencing a positive emotional climate, as reported a week after M-11, predicted the degree of social support and positive affect as well as the amount of posttraumatic growth reported at the 3-week period. Demonstrations (indirectly) and social sharing (directly) predict positive emotional climate 2 months after the attack. Participation in protest rituals or demonstrations, coupled with elections and changes in government office, helps overcome the effects of collective trauma and leads to an improvement of the emotional climate in the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Participating in ceremonies and rituals reinforces social cohesion and can be conceived of as a communal form of coping, which enhances a culture of peace.