Disaster media coverage and psychological outcomes: descriptive findings in the extant research

Raising awareness of suicide prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic

Suicide is one of the top 20 leading causes of death worldwide. With the rapid spreading of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) crisis around the world, suicide cases induced by the COVID‐19 pandemic have been reported in many countries. Individuals with suspected and confirmed COVID‐19 infection, frontline healthcare workers, bereaved families, elders, children, and adolescents are vulnerable populations who might be at elevated suicide risk. In this micro‐review, a systematic search through PubMed was performed for a comprehensive investigation of suicide risk factors during the pandemic. On this basis, we put forward considerations and advice for preventing pandemic related suicide, including staying socially connected through online platform or apps during period of quarantine, reducing unemployment, dispelling rumors and misinformation in time, and maintaining evidenced‐based management of psychiatric symptoms. More importantly, early detection and timely intervention of individuals with psychiatric disorders and suicide behaviors will be effective to reduce the number of suicides, with specific measurements of using validated scales to perform regular suicide risk screening, improving the availability of mental health services, and providing appropriate and evidence‐based interventions for individuals in demand. Policy makers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals need to collaborate to control the possible suicide events during the COVID‐19 pandemic and future possible crisis.

Individuals who are exposed to bio‐disaster might encounter increased suicide risk. Investigation of infectious disease‐related risk factors would facilitate suicide prevention. Early detection and timely intervention can be key and effective way to reduce suicide cases.

Coping with climate change: Three insights for research, intervention, and communication to promote adaptive coping to climate change

Climate change poses a major threat to human well-being and will be the root cause of a variety of stressors in coming decades. Psychologists have an important role to play in developing interventions and communication strategies to help people understand and cope with climate change impacts. Through a review of the literature, we identify three guiding insights for strategies to promote adaptive coping and resilience to climate change stress. First, it is unlikely that one single "correct" or "best" way of communicating about adaptive coping with climate change exists, but there are established best practices communicators can follow. Second, in implementing these best practices, practitioners must attend to the impact of variability in the nature of different kinds of stress caused by climate change, as well as individual differences in how people chronically respond to stressors. Third, because individuals, communities, and ecosystems are interconnected, work on adaptive coping to climate change must address individual coping in the context of community and ecosystem resilience. These insights from psychological science can be leveraged to promote human flourishing despite increasing stressors posed by climate change.

The Relationship Between Media Involvement and Death Anxiety of Self-Quarantined People in the COVID-19 Outbreak in China: The Mediating Roles of Empathy and Sympathy

The COVID-19 outbreak put health threat to people globally, and self-quarantine was suggested by the Chinese government to contain the outbreak. In self-quarantine, media was the most important way to get information about the outbreak. However, the relationship between media involvement and death anxiety, and the underlying mechanism are poorly understood. We conducted an online survey of 917 participants to assess the media involvement and other potential factors (empathy, sympathy and affect) which might affect death anxiety. Correlation analysis and mediation models were conducted to examine the relationship between media involvement and death anxiety, and the possible mediating roles of empathy, sympathy, and affect. It was found that media involvement was positively associated with death anxiety. Empathy, sympathy, and negative affect played mediating roles between them. However, empathy and sympathy act differently in the association, as empathy could lead to the increase of negative affect, while sympathy did not.

Social Media Use and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Moderator Role of Disaster Stressor and Mediator Role of Negative Affect

Background

Informed by the differential susceptibility to media effects model (DSMM), the current study aims to investigate associations of COVID‐19‐related social media use with mental health outcomes and to uncover potential mechanisms underlying the links.

Methods

A sample of 512 (62.5% women; M_age = 22.12 years, SD = 2.47) Chinese college students participated in this study from 24 March to 1 April 2020 via online questionnaire. They completed measures of social media use, the COVID‐19 stressor, negative affect, secondary traumatic stress (STS), depression, and anxiety as well as covariates.

Results

As expected, results from regression analyses indicated that a higher level of social media use was associated with worse mental health. More exposure to disaster news via social media was associated with greater depression for participants with high (but not low) levels of the disaster stressor. Moreover, path analysis showed negative affect mediated the relationship of social media use and mental health.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the disaster stressor may be a risk factor that amplifies the deleterious impact of social media use on depression. In addition, excessive exposure to disaster on social media may trigger negative affect, which may in turn contribute to mental health problems. Future interventions to improve mental health should consider elements of both disaster stressor and negative affect.

Media use and acute psychological outcomes during COVID-19 outbreak in China

The COVID-19 outbreak in China led to an extraordinary threat to public health and wellbeing. This study examined the psychological impact of media use among people indirectly exposed to the disease during the initial phase of the outbreak. We conducted an internet-based survey on January 28, 2020 (one week after the official declaration of person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus). Media use (media forms, content of media exposure, and media engagement) related to the outbreak and psychological outcomes (positive and negative affect, anxiety, depression, and stress) of 917 Chinese adults was assessed. A series of multivariable regressions were conducted. The results showed that use of new media, rather than traditional media, was significantly associated with more negative affect, depression, anxiety, and stress. Viewing stressful content (i.e., severity of the outbreak, reports from hospital) was associated with more negative affect and depression. Media engagement was also associated with more negative affect, anxiety, and stress. However, viewing heroic acts, speeches from experts, and knowledge of the disease and prevention were associated with more positive affect and less depression. The study suggested new media use and more media engagement was associated with negative psychological outcomes, while certain media content was associated with positive psychological impact. The present study highlights the need for timely public health communication from official sources and suggests that reduced exposure to new media may be beneficial.

Psychological distress and state boredom during the COVID-19 outbreak in China: the role of meaning in life and media use

BACKGROUND

Epidemics are associated with increased burden of psychological distress. However, the role of boredom on mental health during epidemic periods has seldom been explored.

OBJECTIVE

This study attempted to examine the effect of state boredom on psychological outcomes, and the role of media use and meaning in life among the indirectly exposed Chinese adults in the initial phase of the COVID-19 outbreak.

METHOD

An online survey was administered to 917 Chinese adults on 28 January 2020 (1 week after the official declaration of person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus). Self-report questionnaires were used to assess state boredom, anxiety, depression, stress, media use and meaning in life. Moderated mediation analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that the effect of state boredom on anxiety and stress, but not depression, were mediated by media use and that sense of meaning in life modified this association. Meaning in life served as a risk factor, rather than a protective factor for the negative psychological outcomes when people experienced boredom. The association between boredom and media use was significant for high but not low meaning in life individuals.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrated that boredom and media use were associated with an increased burden or psychological distress in the sample. It is important to pay attention to the possible negative impact of boredom and media use during COVID-19, and find more ways to cope with boredom, especially those with high presence of meaning in life.

Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study in China

BACKGROUND

Healthcare workers fighting against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are under tremendous pressure, which puts them at an increased risk of developing psychological problems.

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of psychological problems in different healthcare workers (ie, physicians, medical residents, nurses, technicians and public health professionals) during the COVID-19 pandemic in China and explore factors that are associated with the onset of psychological problems in this population during this public health crisis.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted in February 2020 among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological problems were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire and Insomnia Severity Index. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore the factors that were associated with psychological problems.

RESULTS

The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety, depression, insomnia and the overall psychological problems in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in China was 46.04%, 44.37%, 28.75% and 56.59%, respectively. The prevalence of the overall psychological problems in physicians, medical residents, nurses, technicians and public health professionals was 60.35%, 50.82%, 62.02%, 57.54% and 62.40%, respectively. Compared with healthcare workers who did not participate in front-line work, front-line healthcare workers had a higher risk of anxiety, insomnia and overall psychological problems. In addition, attention to negative or neutral information about the pandemic, receiving negative feedback from families and friends who joined front-line work, and unwillingness to join front-line work if given a free choice were three major factors for these psychological problems.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological problems are pervasive among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Receiving negative information and participating in front-line work appear to be important risk factors for psychological problems. The psychological health of different healthcare workers should be protected during the COVID-19 pandemic with timely interventions and proper information feedback.

Using Internet-Based Psychological Measurement to Capture the Deteriorating Community Mental Health Profile During COVID-19: Observational Study

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is expected to have widespread and pervasive implications for mental health in terms of deteriorating outcomes and increased health service use, leading to calls for empirical research on mental health during the pandemic. Internet-based psychological measurement can play an important role in collecting imperative data, assisting to guide evidence-based decision making in practice and policy, and subsequently facilitating immediate reporting of measurement results to participants.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to use an internet-based mental health measurement platform to compare the mental health profile of community members during COVID-19 with community members assessed before the pandemic.

METHODS

This study uses an internet-based self-assessment tool to collect data on psychological distress, mental well-being, and resilience in community cohorts during (n=673) and prior to the pandemic (two cohorts, n=1264 and n=340).

RESULTS

Our findings demonstrate significantly worse outcomes on all mental health measures for participants measured during COVID-19 compared to those measured before (P<.001 for all outcomes, effect sizes ranging between Cohen d=0.32 to Cohen d=0.81. Participants who demonstrated problematic scores for at least one of the mental health outcomes increased from 58% (n=197/340) before COVID-19 to 79% (n=532/673) during COVID-19, leading to only 21% (n=141) of measured participants displaying good mental health during the pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

The results clearly demonstrate deterioration in mental health outcomes during COVID-19. Although further research is needed, our findings support the serious mental health implications of the pandemic and highlight the utility of internet-based data collection tools in providing evidence to innovate and strengthen practice and policy during and after the pandemic.

The Association between Utilization of Media Information and Current Health Anxiety Among the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster Evacuees

The 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima was not only a health disaster, but also an information disaster. Although media can promote health communication following disasters, studies have revealed associations between media information and negative psychological reactions. To clarify the relationship between media utilization and current health anxiety due to radiation exposure, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in Fukushima. We selected 2000 subjects from evacuation (i.e., 500) and non-evacuation (i.e., 1500) areas by two-stage stratified random sampling. As the independent variable, participants were asked about current health anxiety due to radiation exposure at the time of answering the questionnaire. For utilization of media about radiation exposure, local media, national media, Internet media, public broadcasts, and public relations information from local government were set as the dependent variables. Questionnaire data were analyzed by evacuation type (i.e., forced/voluntary). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the use of public relations information was significantly associated with lower anxiety for the forced evacuees (odds ratio: 0.72; 95% confidence interval: 0.56–0.93). Our findings highlight the importance of public relations information from local government in terms of it being associated with lower current health anxiety, and this could potentially aid in preparing for future disasters.

Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of surgeons and coping strategies

Unprecedented times call for extraordinary measures. While surgeons across the globe try to comprehend the evolving facade of the COVID-19 pandemic and improvise surgical practice to the best of their ability, the psychological impact of the stress on their own mental health and well-being has been underestimated. This paper aims to review the indirect and overt factors that may affect the mental health of a surgeon in the present circumstances. Furthermore, it will aim to highlight key coping mechanisms at an individual and institutional level, so as to mitigate the negative psychological impact on surgeons.

Ecological Disasters and Mental Health: Causes, Consequences, and Interventions

Ecological disasters highlight the importance of understanding natural disasters as they relate to a changing global climate. Such disasters often have a predictable pattern of evolving over time and anticipated psychological and behavioral problems and community disruptions. Various factors enhance transmission of these adverse effects beyond the geographic location of the ecological disaster, with certain populations being particularly vulnerable to these effects. Understanding the range and pattern of these effects can aid in optimizing interventions. The use of evidence-informed interventions can reduce distress, enhance well-being, and improve functioning for affected individuals and communities. Effective preparedness involves an understanding of these factors, incorporation of them at all stages of disaster management, and continuous education and training for disaster planners and responders.

Relationship Between Use of Media and Radiation Anxiety Among the Residents of Fukushima 5.5 Years After the Nuclear Power Plant Accident

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the relationships between use of media to obtain information on radiation and radiation anxiety among community residents in Fukushima, 5.5 years after the nuclear power plant accident.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was administered between August and October 2016 to 2000 randomly sampled residents in Fukushima prefecture. Radiation anxiety toward health and regarding discrimination and prejudice were assessed with 4- and 3-item scales, respectively. Participants nominated their most-used media for acquiring information on radiation by choosing up to 3 sources from 12 information sources listed (eg, local newspaper, TV news, websites, social networking sites [SNS], local government newsletter, word of mouth). We investigated associations of most-used media types and radiation anxiety, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and anxiety regarding radiation's health effects immediately after the accident, using multivariate linear regression analyses.

RESULTS

Valid responses were obtained from 790 (39.5%) residents. Acquiring information about radiation by word of mouth was related to higher radiation anxiety toward health. Regarding radiation anxiety concerning discrimination and prejudice, SNS use was related to higher anxiety, whereas acquiring information through Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) TV news was related to lower anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

Interpersonal interactions rather than gaining information from media - characterized by unidirectional information exchange - may increase radiation anxiety.

Overview of Children and Disasters

Currently, throughout the world, there are nearly 40 million children displaced by natural or man-made disasters. The special needs of children in disasters are often unrecognized, yet children comprise half of disaster victims. The purpose of this review is to provide information on (1) demographics related to children and disasters, both domestic and international; (2) risks for children who experience disasters; (3) programs that help children in disasters; and (4) training programs on the special needs of children in disasters. Children who are displaced by disasters are at risk of acute and long-term medical problems. Disaster experiences can also lead to acute and long-term psychological problems. Ultimately, these have worldwide negative implications for human society, including education, health care, security, and economic and political aspects of daily life. There is a compelling need for more services to help the children who have experienced disasters and for education to train more relief workers about the special needs of children in disasters.

Behavioral Responses in Youth Exposed to Natural Disasters and Political Conflict

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this review was to focus solely on youths' behavioral responses to natural disasters and political conflicts in order to fully understand their impact and scope.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies in the field of trauma have shown that theoretical conceptions have moved away from a narrow focus on the individual and towards wider ecological perspectives and from a narrow focus on negative responses to trauma exposure towards positive prosocial responses. Although there is a distinction between youths' behavioral responses towards natural disasters vs. towards political conflicts, in both of these adverse situations, behavioral responses exist alongside emotional responses. Adolescents exposed to either type of adverse scenario are often able to turn their negative experiences into positive ones, take greater responsibility for themselves and others, contribute to recovery processes, and engage in prosocial behaviors. These responses must be investigated in the context of the trauma field's recent understandings regarding psychological, biological, environmental, and cultural factors.

Is Viewing Mass Trauma Television Coverage Associated With Trauma Reactions in Adults and Youth? A Meta-Analytic Review

This study presents the findings of meta-analyses examining the association between viewing mass trauma television coverage and posttraumatic stress (PTS) outcomes as well as acute stress reactions (ASR) among adults and youth. A literature search identified 43 (N = 31,162) studies assessing the association between viewing mass trauma television coverage and PTS and four (N = 9,083) assessing the association with ASR. The overall size of the association between viewing television coverage and PTS, estimated using a random-effect model, was small but statistically significant, r = .17, 95% CI [.13, .22]. The moderator analysis examined eight preselected variables: man-made versus natural trauma, specific incident versus chronic stressor, adult versus youth sample, proximal versus distal event exposure, television only versus combined media form, specific content in coverage versus no specific content, quantification of media contact using numeric measurement versus subjective measurement versus a binary item, and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) versus posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) outcome. The analysis revealed a statistically significant moderation effect for the quantification of media contact (numeric vs. subjective vs. binary) only, which accounted for 19% of the observed heterogeneity. With a summary estimate of r = .26, 95% CI [.06, .44], the analysis of the ASR studies corroborated the PTS findings. The results suggest that clinicians and public health practitioners should discuss mass trauma television viewing with their patients and with the public. Limitations of the extant research are discussed.

Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and television viewing patterns in the Nurses' Health Study II: A longitudinal analysis

Introduction

The relation between TV viewing and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is controversial; prior work focused exclusively on whether TV viewing of disaster events constitutes a traumatic stressor that causes PTSD. This study evaluates a possible bidirectional relation between PTSD and TV viewing in community-dwelling women.

Methods

Data are from the PTSD subsample of the Nurses’ Health II study, an ongoing prospective study of women aged 24–42 years at enrollment and who have been followed biennially (N = 50,020). Trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms (including date of onset) were assessed via the Brief Trauma Questionnaire and the Short Screening Scale for DSM-IV PTSD. Average TV viewing was reported at 5 times over 18 years of follow-up. Linear mixed models assessed differences in TV viewing patterns by trauma/PTSD status. Among women with trauma/PTSD onset during follow-up (N = 14,374), linear spline mixed models assessed differences in TV viewing patterns before and after PTSD onset.

Results

Women with high PTSD symptoms reported more TV viewing (hours/wk) compared to trauma-unexposed women at all follow-up assessments (β = 0.14, SE = 0.01, p < .001). Among the women who experienced trauma during follow-up, significant increases in TV viewing (hours/day) prior to onset of high PTSD symptom levels were evident (β = 0.15, SE = 0.02, p < .001).

Conclusions

TV viewing following trauma exposure may be a marker of vulnerability for developing PTSD and also a consequence of having PTSD. High TV viewing levels may be linked with ineffective coping strategies or social isolation, which increase risk of developing PTSD.

Terrorism Media Effects in Youth Exposed to Chronic Threat and Conflict in Israel

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This paper reviews the extant research on the effects of contact with terrorism media coverage on psychological outcomes in youth in the context of chronic threat and conflict in Israel.

RECENT FINDINGS

The extant research is inconclusive with respect to the relationship between media contact and a variety of psychological outcomes in Israeli studies of youth exposed to ongoing threat and repeated terrorist attacks. Additional research is needed to examine potential differences in outcomes and the factors that influence youth coping and adaptation in an environment of chronic threat and extensive media coverage. Moreover, studies are needed to identify and evaluate potential parental, professional, and social strategies to enhance youth adjustment. Because political conflict in Israel is not likely to abate in the near future, the setting is ideal to conduct methodologically rigorous research including research using representative samples, prospective reporting, and longitudinal design.

Before the Storm: Stressors Associated with the Hurricane Irma Evacuation Process for Families

OBJECTIVE

Parents and children are vulnerable populations following hurricanes, and evacuation is an important safety strategy. Yet, little is known about "before the storm" stressors, particularly the surrounding evacuation, affecting families. Thus, following Hurricane Irma, we evaluated both stressful and positive aspects of the evacuation process for families, and we compared perceived safety and stress before, during, and after the hurricane across evacuating and non-evacuating families.

METHODS

South Florida parents of children under age 18 years (N=554; 97% mothers) completed an online survey in the months following Hurricane Irma, assessing perceptions of stress, safety, and evacuation experiences. Quantitative data and open-ended responses were gathered.

RESULTS

Most families (82%) residing in mandatory evacuation zones evacuated, although many not in mandatory zones (46%) also evacuated. Parents who evacuated felt significantly safer during the storm, but more stressed before and during the storm, than non-evacuees. Evacuation-related travel and multiple family issues were rated as most stressful, although some positive aspects of evacuation were offered.

CONCLUSION

Findings have implications for emergency planners (eg, pre-/post-storm traffic flow needs, emotional needs of parents arriving at shelters) and for families (eg, importance of developing family disaster plans, controlling media exposure) to reduce evacuation stress for future storms. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:63-73).

Relation of High Social Capital to Preferable Emotional Response to News Media Broadcasting of Natural Disasters: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Japan

Media coverage of disasters potentially damages mental health. Moreover, its effects may differ as recipients may have different emotional responses toward media. The present study examined whether social capital, known to be protective against mental problems, influences a recipient's emotional response toward news media broadcasting of natural disasters via newspapers, television and internet in Japan. Three social capital components, social participation, social support and cognitive social capital, were considered in the present study as each component reportedly had different effect on mental health. This nationwide cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 2015 among 1,200 Japanese citizens aged 15 to 79 years who were selected using the multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected via the drop-off pick-up method using a printed structured questionnaire. Negative and positive emotions were classified based on recipients' responses against news media. Among 1,190 participants who reported emotions toward news media, 30.9% (368) had experienced any natural disasters, 37.4% (445) belonged to at least one formal or informal organization (social participation), 40.2% (478) had high social support, and 68.8% (819) had high cognitive social capital. High social support was associated with both reduced negative emotional response (OR 0.66, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.47-0.93) and increased positive emotional response (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.04-2.12) in multivariate analyses, while high cognitive social capital was only associated with increased positive emotional response (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.11-2.37). These results suggest protective effects of social support and cognitive social capital against news media coverage of natural disasters.

Media Coverage, Forecasted Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, and Psychological Responses Before and After an Approaching Hurricane

IMPORTANCE

Exposure to disaster-related media coverage is associated with negative mental health outcomes. However, risk factors that render individuals vulnerable to this exposure are unknown. Hurricane-associated media exposure was expected to explain the association between forecasted posttraumatic stress (PTS) and adjustment after the hurricane.

OBJECTIVE

To examine forecasted PTS responses and media coverage as risk factors for negative mental health outcomes in the context of media coverage of an approaching disaster (Hurricane Irma).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In a representative probability community sample of 1637 adults from Florida, respondents completed 2 online surveys: the first during the 60 hours before Hurricane Irma's landfall (wave 1; September 8-11, 2017) and the second approximately 1 month later (wave 2; October 12-29, 2017). Poststratification weights were applied to facilitate population-based inferences. Data were analyzed from October 19 through 31, 2018.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Posttraumatic stress responses, psychological distress, functional impairment, and worry about future events.

RESULTS

The wave 1 survey included 1637 participants (57.0% response rate); 1478 participants were retained at the wave 2 follow-up (90.3% retention) (weighted proportion of women, 62.2%; mean [SD] age, 59.1 [15.2] years). The final weighted sample closely approximated US Census benchmarks for the state of Florida. Data analyses using structural equation modeling revealed that exposure to media coverage of the hurricane (β = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.11-0.31; P < .001) and forecasted PTS (β = 0.44; 95% CI, 0.35-0.52; P < .001) were significantly associated with adjustment after the hurricane. In addition, a significant indirect path from forecasted PTS to adjustment after the storm occurred through exposure to hurricane-related media coverage (β = 0.07; 95% CI, 0.05-0.08; P < .001). Covariates included demographics, mental health diagnoses before the storm, perceived evacuation zone status, and degree of hurricane exposure.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Results of this study provide a more thorough understanding of how psychological factors before hurricanes are associated with adjustment after hurricanes via media consumption. The findings may also demonstrate the importance of considering prestorm psychological factors when assessing poststorm outcomes, with implications for the media and public health efforts.

Mapping the Mental Health of Residents After the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings

Postdisaster mental health is typically assessed and treated on an individual basis. Ecological assessments, however, can be a more cost-effective means to identify and promote mental health after a disaster. In this study, the spatial patterning of acute stress scores, probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and fears and worries among a representative sample of Boston metropolitan area participants (N = 788) was examined using data collected 2-4 weeks to 2 years after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Findings indicate significant clustering of acute stress scores, Moran's I = 0.24, z = 2.91, p = .004; fears and worries, Moran's I = 0.25, z = 2.39, p = .017; and probable PTSD at Wave 2, Moran's I = 0.49, z = 5.16; p < .001, and at Wave 5, Moran's I = 0.26, z = 2.51, p = .012, in the Boston metropolitan area, with high distress clusters found near downtown Boston and the attack site. These results suggest that disaster mental health is not uniformly distributed across space. Instead, patterns emerge to identify persons and neighborhoods at risk for poor mental health outcomes.

Media experiences and associations with mental health among the bereaved of the MH17-disaster: A latent profile analysis

Research has shown that the amount of media exposure is associated with post-event mental health problems. Whether bereaved individuals have negative experiences with media reports and whether they are associated with post-event mental health is unclear. This study evaluated these experiences and associations following the MH17-disaster. How media reports were experienced (nine topics, modified MAS), depression symptoms (QIDS-SR), functional problems (WSAS) and event-related coping-self-efficacy (CSE) were assessed about one year post-disaster (May-August 2015) among Dutch bereaved (N = 152). A substantial minority reported negative experiences such as reports made me angry (30%) and made me sad (48%). Latent profile analysis with symptoms, problems and coping self-efficacy as indicators, identified four classes of post-disaster mental health: a Well-functioning^{(class 1)} , 35.1%; a Mild-problems^{(class 2)} , 30.4%; a Sub-clinical^{(class 3)} , 27.0%; and a Clinical^{(class 4)} , 7.4%. Differences in symptoms, problems and coping self-efficacy levels between classes were large according to Cohen's ds. Multivariate logistic regression (MLR) showed that the Clinical^{(class 4)} compared to the Well-functioning^{(class 1)} , more often that felt that reports strongly "embarrassed me," "made me feel sad," "filled me with fear" and "served as a magnifying glass." Future research should assess opportunities and effects of limiting media consumption.

Anticipatory Traumatic Reaction: Outcomes Arising From Secondary Exposure to Disasters and Large-Scale Threats

Two studies, with a total of 707 participants, developed and examined the reliability and validity of a measure for anticipatory traumatic reaction (ATR), a novel construct describing a form of distress that may occur in response to threat-related media reports and discussions. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a scale comprising three subscales: feelings related to future threat; preparatory thoughts and actions; and disruption to daily activities. Internal consistency was .93 for the overall ATR scale. The ATR scale demonstrated convergent validity through associations with negative affect, depression, anxiety, stress, neuroticism, and repetitive negative thinking. The scale showed discriminant validity in relationships to Big Five characteristics. The ATR scale had some overlap with a measure of posttraumatic stress disorder, but also showed substantial separate variance. This research provides preliminary evidence for the novel construct of ATR as well as a measure of the construct. The ATR scale will allow researchers to further investigate anticipatory traumatic reaction in the fields of trauma, clinical practice, and social psychology.

Ebola in Prime Time: A Content Analysis of Sensationalism and Efficacy Information in U.S. Nightly News Coverage of the Ebola Outbreaks

Using a media systems dependency framework, this study looked at media location as a proxy for salience of the Ebola outbreaks in 2014. In unaffected markets where salience was lower, it was hypothesized that news stories would be more sensational and offer less efficacy information as compensation. A total of 1,275 nightly news stories originating from three affected and three unaffected U.S. markets were analyzed. Affected markets were defined as cities where a confirmed case emerged, was treated, or that housed an airport designated as one of the five ports of entry. Unaffected markets did not meet any of these criteria and were not in the same state as any city that did. A statistically significant difference in the average level of sensationalism between the two market types was found (t (1273) = 5.774, p < 0.001), with unaffected markets (M = 0.94, SD = 0.87) having a higher average level of sensationalism than affected markets (M = 0.67, SD = 0.76). There was no statistically significant difference seen in the inclusion of efficacy information between affected and unaffected markets. These findings highlight how specific story elements in news coverage of public health crises may be influenced by media location.

Traumatic stress symptoms after the November 13th 2015 Terrorist Attacks among Young Adults: The relation to media and emotion regulation

OBJECTIVE

A major terror attack occurred in the Paris region on 13th November 2015. This event was widely showed, described, and commented in the media. Media consumption may lead to a widespread diffusion of trauma-related symptoms following a collective trauma. These effects may depend on the type of media and emotion regulation strategies used by the media consumer.

METHOD

Trauma history, traumatic symptoms, media consumption, psychological distress, and emotion regulation strategies of 451 young adults were assessed by an online survey.

RESULTS

Findings reveal the joint role of social networks use and dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies on anxiety, depression, and somatization symptoms and also on cognitive and emotional alteration among traumatic symptoms.

DISCUSSION

Consistent with the emotional contagion hypothesis, individuals who reported spending more time on social networks were also those who were experiencing more psychological distress.

Reactions of Oklahoma City bombing survivors to media coverage of the September 11, 2001, attacks

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the effects of media coverage of a terrorist incident in individuals remote from the location of a major attack who had directly experienced a prior terrorist incident.

METHOD

Directly-exposed survivors of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, initially studied six months after the incident, and indirectly-affected Oklahoma City community residents were assessed two to seven months after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Survivors were assessed for a diagnosis of bombing-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at index and follow up, and emotional reactions and September 11 media behavior were assessed in all participants.

RESULTS

Among the three investigated forms of media (television, radio, and newspaper), only television viewing was associated with 9/11-related posttraumatic stress reactions. Exposure to the Oklahoma City bombing was associated with greater arousal in relation to the September 11 attacks, and among survivors, having developed bombing-related PTSD was associated with higher scores on all three September 11 posttraumatic stress response clusters (intrusion, avoidance, and arousal). Although time spent watching television coverage of the September 11 attacks and fear-related discontinuation of media contact were not associated with Oklahoma City bombing exposure, discontinuing September 11 media contact due to fear was associated with avoidance/numbing in the full sample and in the analysis restricted to the bombing survivors.

CONCLUSION

Surviving a prior terrorist incident and developing PTSD in relation to that incident may predispose individuals to adverse reactions to media coverage of a future terrorist attack.