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Media exposure to mass violence events can fuel a cycle of distress.

ABSTRACT: The established link between trauma-related media exposure and distress may be cyclical: Distress can increase subsequent trauma-related media consumption that promotes increased distress to later events. We tested this hypothesis in a 3-year longitudinal study following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and the 2016 Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre using a national U.S. sample (N = 4165). Data were collected shortly after the bombings, 6 and 24 months post-bombings, and beginning 5 days after the Pulse nightclub massacre (approximately 1 year later; 36 months post-bombings). Bombing-related media exposure predicted posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS) 6 months later; PTS predicted worry about future negative events 2 years after the bombings, which predicted increased media consumption and acute stress following the Pulse nightclub massacre 1 year later. Trauma-related media exposure perpetuates a cycle of high distress and media use.

SUBMITTER: Thompson RR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6469939 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Media exposure to mass violence events can fuel a cycle of distress.

Thompson Rebecca R RR Jones Nickolas M NM Holman E Alison EA Silver Roxane Cohen RC

Science advances 20190417 4

The established link between trauma-related media exposure and distress may be cyclical: Distress can increase subsequent trauma-related media consumption that promotes increased distress to later events. We tested this hypothesis in a 3-year longitudinal study following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and the 2016 Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre using a national U.S. sample (<i>N</i> = 4165). Data were collected shortly after the bombings, 6 and 24 months post-bombings, and beginning 5 days ...[more]

PMID: 31001584

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Project description:BackgroundIt is unclear how exposure to and perception of community trauma creates a mental health burden. This study aimed to examine the psychological distress trends among community residents in acute stress reaction, acute stress disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder phases following the Seoul Halloween crowd crush.MethodsA three-wave repeated cross-sectional survey was conducted with participants after the incident. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with post hoc Bonferroni test was adopted to examine temporal changes in psychological distress and psychological outcomes resulting from media impacts. A two-way ANCOVA was adopted to examine the interaction effects of time and relevance to victims on psychological distress.ResultsA total of 807, 1,703, and 2,220 individuals participated in the three waves. Anxiety (estimated mean [standard error of the mean]: 2.28 [0.03] vs. 2.12 [0.02] vs. 2.03 [0.02]; P < 0.001), depression (2.22 [0.03] vs. 2.01 [0.02] vs. 1.90 [0.02]; P < 0.001), and anger (2.70 [0.03] vs. 2.66 [0.02] vs. 2.49 [0.02]; P < 0.001) gradually improved. However, sense of safety initially worsened and did not recover well (2.96 [0.03] vs. 2.75 [0.02] vs. 2.77 [0.02]; P < 0.001). The interaction effect of time and relevance to the victim were significant in depression (P for interaction = 0.049), anger (P for interaction = 0.016), and sense of safety (P for interaction = 0.004). Among participants unrelated to the victim, those exposed to graphics exhibited higher levels of anxiety (2.09 [0.02] vs. 1.87 [0.07]; P = 0.002), depression (1.99 [0.02] vs. 1.83 [0.07]; P = 0.020), and anger (2.71 [0.03] vs. 2.47 [0.08]; P = 0.003) at W2 and higher anger (2.49 [0.02] vs. 2.31 [0.06]; P = 0.005) at W3.ConclusionCommunity residents indirectly exposed to trauma also experienced psychological distress in the early stages after the incident. A significant impact of media which might have served as a conduit for unfiltered graphics and rumors was also indicated.

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Media exposure to mass violence events can fuel a cycle of distress.

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Media exposure to mass violence events can fuel a cycle of distress.

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