The Mental Health Impact of Daily News Exposure During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Consumption of distressing news media, which substantially increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, has demonstrable negative effects on mental health.

Objective

This study examines the proximal impact of daily exposure to news about COVID-19 on mental health in the first year of the pandemic.

Methods

A sample of 546 college students completed daily ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) for 8 weeks, measuring exposure to news about COVID-19, worry and optimism specifically related to COVID-19, hopelessness, and general worry.

Results

Participants completed >80,000 surveys. Multilevel mediation models indicated that greater daily exposure to news about COVID-19 is associated with higher same-day and next-day worry about the pandemic. Elevations in wo

SUBMITTER: Kellerman JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9135112 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature