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Ghazal P, Akbar S. The psychological impact of the rise in media reporting of sexual violence after COVID-19 pandemic on Pakistani women's mental health. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2024:10.1007/s00127-024-02690-6. [PMID: 38777901 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-024-02690-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pandemics usually have inequitable effects on the most vulnerable groups of society. Since the start of COVID-19, there has been a horrifying upsurge in cases of sexual and gender-based violence against women, globally. Consequently, frequent breaking news of sexual violence in media aggravated mental distress and worry among women. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the impact of the rise in active circulation of news of sexual violence on the mental health of working women and students using the validated DASS-21 questionnaire. METHODS A total of 303 women with diverse socio-demographic backgrounds participated in the study. We performed a chi-square test to analyze the association of increase in media reporting with DASS-21total and sub-categories scores. Multivariate linear regression was performed on propensity score-matched subjects to identify psychosocial predictors of mental distress. RESULTS Increased self-reported worries in response to rise in media reports of sexual violence was found to be significant predictor of mental distress (p < 0.002). Moreover, highly significant correlation between the increase in media reports and scores of depression, anxiety, and stress was observed (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The rise in media reporting of sexual violence in the after math of COVID-19 was found to have a significant psychological impact on the mental health of Pakistani women. This is the first study of its kind on the subject and provides fundamental findings for shaping policy change on responsible media reporting of sexual violence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasha Ghazal
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Shehzeen Akbar
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
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2
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Mancini AD, Sowards S, Blumberg A, Lynch R, Fardella G, Maewsky NC, Prati G. Media exposure related to COVID-19 is associated with worse mental health consequences in the United States compared to Italy. ANXIETY, STRESS, AND COPING 2024; 37:348-360. [PMID: 38163987 DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2023.2299983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prolonged media exposure after collective crises is widely shown to have adverse effects on people's mental health. Do these effects show variation across different countries? In the present study, we compared the link between media exposure related to COVID-19 and mental health-related outcomes in the United States and Italy, two countries with high levels of early COVID-19 prevalence. METHOD Participants matched on age and gender in the United States (n = 415) and Italy (n = 442) completed assessments of media exposure, stress, anxiety, COVID-19 worry, and other variables shortly after the first wave of infections in 2020. RESULTS COVID-19 related media exposure predicted higher levels of stress, anxiety, and COVID-19 worry, net of the effects of neuroticism, political identification, and demographics. Moreover, COVID-19 related media exposure interacted with country to predict more stress and COVID-19 worry in the United States than in Italy. CONCLUSIONS Findings are among the first to document cross-national differences in the association of media exposure with mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony D Mancini
- Department of Psychology, Marks Hall, Pace University, Pleasantville, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Sowards
- Department of Psychology, Marks Hall, Pace University, Pleasantville, NY, USA
| | - Andrea Blumberg
- Department of Psychology, Marks Hall, Pace University, Pleasantville, NY, USA
| | - Robert Lynch
- Department of Psychology, Marks Hall, Pace University, Pleasantville, NY, USA
| | - Giovanni Fardella
- Department of Psychology, Marks Hall, Pace University, Pleasantville, NY, USA
| | - Nicole C Maewsky
- Department of Psychology, Marks Hall, Pace University, Pleasantville, NY, USA
| | - Gabriele Prati
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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3
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Li K, Li J, Li Y. The effects of social media usage on vicarious traumatization and the mediation role of recommendation systems usage and peer communication in China after the aircraft flight accident. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2337509. [PMID: 38626195 PMCID: PMC11022913 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2337509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Previous research has indicated that continuous exposure to disaster-related information through social media can lead to vicarious trauma. However, scholars have recognized the need for further in-depth research into the underlying mechanisms influencing this relationship.Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact mechanism of social media usage on vicarious traumatization in users and analyze the roles of recommendation systems and peer communication.Methods: This study was conducted with college students in China, focusing on the context of the MU5735 aircraft flight accident in China in which 123 passengers and 9 crew members died. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. The partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) method was used to test the data and model.Results: This study obtained valid responses from 1317 participants. The study findings revealed a significant positive correlation between social media usage(β = 0.180,P < .001), recommendation systems usage (β = 0.172, P < .001), peer communication (β = 0.303, P < .001), and the development of vicarious traumatization. Recommendation systems usage (specific indirect effect = 0.063, P < .001) and peer communication (specific indirect effect = 0.138, P < .001) mediated the relationship between social media use and vicarious trauma. Additionally, the impact of peer communication on vicarious trauma was found to be higher compared to the effects of continuous social media use and recommendation system use.Conclusion: The study found that the use of social media to obtain information about accidents, the frequent pushing of accident information by recommender systems, and the frequent discussion of accidents among peers during unexpected accidents contribute to vicarious traumatization. The study suggests that users' reduced retrieval of accident information via social media, as well as reduced peer-to-peer discussions about accidents, and social media platforms' adjustment of recommender system algorithm rules to reduce accident information pushes, may help reduce the likelihood of users experiencing vicarious traumatization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Li
- School of Journalism and Communication, Guangxi University, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Li
- School of Journalism and Communication, Guangxi University, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yujuan Li
- School of Journalism and Communication, Guangxi University, Nanning, People’s Republic of China
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4
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Dyar C, Crosby S, Newcomb ME, Mustanski B, Kaysen D. Doomscrolling: Prospective associations between daily COVID news exposure, internalizing symptoms, and substance use among sexual and gender minority individuals assigned female at birth. PSYCHOLOGY OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER DIVERSITY 2024; 11:139-152. [PMID: 38737889 PMCID: PMC11081596 DOI: 10.1037/sgd0000585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Cross-sectional studies have demonstrated associations between COVID news exposure, anxiety, and depression. However, longitudinal research examining the directionality of these associations is extremely limited. Further, most studies have focused on the general population and neglected sexual and gender minority individuals (SGM), a population disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. To address these limitations, the current study utilized data from a 30-day diary study of SGM assigned female at birth (N = 429). We examined concurrent and prospective associations between COVID news exposure, depressed and anxious affect, COVID distress, substance use, and motives for use. Further, we examined associations between cumulative COVID news exposure across the diary period and prospective changes in anxiety, depression, and COVID distress. When participants were exposed to more COVID news, they experienced more depressed and anxious affect, more COVID distress, less positive affect, and were more likely to use alcohol and cannabis to cope. Further, when participants were exposed to more COVID news, they experienced subsequent increases in depressed affect, decreases in positive affect, and increases in the likelihood of using cannabis to cope. Findings also provided evidence of bi-directional prospective associations between COVID news exposure and COVID distress and of a cumulative impact of COVID news exposure on anxiety, depression, and COVID distress. Findings suggest that individuals should balance the need to remain informed about the pandemic and their own mental health when considering how much COVID news to consume.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michael E. Newcomb
- Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
| | - Brian Mustanski
- Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
| | - Debra Kaysen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
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5
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Demont T, Horta-Sáenz D, Raiber E. Exposure to worrisome topics can increase cognitive performance when incentivized by a performance goal. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1204. [PMID: 38216640 PMCID: PMC10786830 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50036-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Worrisome topics, such as climate change, economic crises, or pandemics including Covid-19, are increasingly present and pervasive due to digital media and social networks. Do worries triggered by such topics affect the cognitive capacities of young adults? In an online experiment during the Covid-19 pandemic (N=1503), we test how the cognitive performance of university students responds when exposed to topics discussing (i) current adverse mental health consequences of social restrictions or (ii) future labor market hardships linked to the economic contraction. Moreover, we study how such a response is affected by a performance goal. We find that the labor market topic increases cognitive performance when it is motivated by a goal, consistent with a 'tunneling effect' of scarcity or a positive stress effect. However, we show that the positive reaction is mainly concentrated among students with larger financial and social resources, pointing to an inequality-widening mechanism. Conversely, we find limited support for a negative stress effect or a 'cognitive load effect' of scarcity, as the mental health topic has a negative but insignificant average effect on cognitive performance. Yet, there is a negative response among psychologically vulnerable individuals when the payout is not conditioned on reaching a goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothée Demont
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, AMSE, Marseille, 5-9 Boulevard Maurice Bourdet, 13001, Marseille, France
| | - Daniela Horta-Sáenz
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, AMSE, Marseille, 5-9 Boulevard Maurice Bourdet, 13001, Marseille, France
| | - Eva Raiber
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, AMSE, Marseille, 5-9 Boulevard Maurice Bourdet, 13001, Marseille, France.
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6
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Morganstein JC. Disaster and Mental Health: The Critical Role of Human Behavior. Psychiatry 2023; 86:272-277. [PMID: 38149708 DOI: 10.1080/00332747.2023.2284620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
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7
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Stewart AE, Chapman HE, Davis JBL. Anxiety and Worry about Six Categories of Climate Change Impacts. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 21:23. [PMID: 38248488 PMCID: PMC10815757 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The occurrence of severe and extreme weather events that have been attributed to a changed climate system and the widespread dissemination of the impacts of these events in the media can lead people to experience concern, worry, and anxiety, which we examined in two studies. In Study 1, we observed that people more frequently expressed worry than anxiety about the impacts of climate change in six areas. People were more frequently worried and anxious about the effects of climate change on future generations and about societal responses (or lack of a response) to climate change. The levels of anxiety that people expressed were significantly higher than the worry people reported when anxiety was their modal response. In Study 2, we observed that both climate change worry and anxiety were negatively correlated with psychological distance from climate change. Overall, climate change worry and psychological distance significantly predicted climate-sustainable behaviors. Our study was among the first to use developed measures of climate change worry, anxiety, and psychological distance to examine peoples' responses across some of the possible impact and consequence areas of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan E. Stewart
- College of Education, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (H.E.C.); (J.B.L.D.)
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8
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Brunette MF, Erlich MD, Edwards ML, Adler DA, Berlant J, Dixon L, First MB, Oslin DW, Siris SG, Talley RM. Addressing the Increasing Mental Health Distress and Mental Illness Among Young Adults in the United States. J Nerv Ment Dis 2023; 211:961-967. [PMID: 38015186 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Recent surveys show rising numbers of young people who report anxiety and depression. Although much attention has focused on mental health of adolescent youth, less attention has been paid to young people as they transition into adulthood. Multiple factors may have contributed to this steady increase: greater exposure to social media, information, and distressing news via personal electronic devices; increased concerns regarding social determinants of health and climate change; and changing social norms due to increased mental health literacy and reduced stigma. The COVID-19 pandemic may have temporarily exacerbated symptoms and impacted treatment availability. Strategies to mitigate causal factors for depression and anxiety in young adults may include education and skills training for cognitive, behavioral, and social coping strategies, as well as healthier use of technology and social media. Policies must support the availability of health insurance and treatment, and clinicians can adapt interventions to encompass the specific concerns and needs of young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary F Brunette
- Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Matthew D Erlich
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and New York Presbyterian, New York, New York
| | - Matthew L Edwards
- Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - David A Adler
- Department of Psychiatry, Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jeffrey Berlant
- Canyon Manor Mental Health Rehabilitation, Novato, California
| | - Lisa Dixon
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and New York Presbyterian, New York, New York
| | - Michael B First
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and New York Presbyterian, New York, New York
| | - David W Oslin
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Administration Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Samuel G Siris
- Department of Psychiatry, Donna and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, New York, New York
| | - Rachel M Talley
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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9
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Sward A, Zik J, McDonald AR, Niep L, Berkowitz S. A Developmentally Informed Approach to Address Mass Firearm Violence. Pediatr Clin North Am 2023; 70:1171-1182. [PMID: 37865438 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2023.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric medical providers have an important role to play in response to mass gun violence events. Although mass gun violence events are rare, the rate of mass shootings is unfortunately increasing, and such events are shown to have significant and far-reaching psychological impact on children and adolescents. Recommendations from the behavioral health and pediatric fields are consolidated along with developmental considerations to support pediatric provider response in the aftermath of a mass gun violence event. Gun violence prevention strategies are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Sward
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, 1890 North Revere Court, Suite 4092, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Jodi Zik
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, 1890 North Revere Court, Suite 4092, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, 1890 North Revere Court, Suite 4092, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Amber R McDonald
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, 1890 North Revere Court, Suite 4092, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Laurel Niep
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, 1890 North Revere Court, Suite 4092, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Steven Berkowitz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, 1890 North Revere Court, Suite 4092, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, 1890 North Revere Court, Suite 4092, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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10
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Zougheibe R, Dewan A, Norman R, Gudes O. Insights into parents' perceived worry before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: inequality and heterogeneity of influences. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1944. [PMID: 37805455 PMCID: PMC10559437 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16337-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excessive worry is an invisible disruptive force that has adverse health outcomes and may advance to other forms of disorder, such as anxiety or depression. Addressing worry and its influences is challenging yet crucial for informing public health policy. METHODS We examined parents' worries, influences, and variability before and during COVID-19 pandemic and across geography. Parents (n = 340) and their primary school-aged children from five Australian states completed an anonymous online survey in mid-2020. After literature review, we conceptualised the influences and performed a series of regression analyses. RESULTS Worry levels and the variables contributing to parents' worry varied before to during the pandemic. The proportion of parents who were "very worried all the time" increased by 14.6% in the early days of the pandemic. During the pandemic, ethnic background modified parents' worry and parents' history of daily distress symptoms was a significant contributor (p < 0.05). Excessive exposure to news remained significant both before and during the pandemic. The primary predictor of parents' worry before COVID-19 was perceived neighbourhood safety, while the main predictor during COVID-19 was financial risk due to income change. Some variable such as neighbourhood safety and financial risk varied in their contribution to worry across geographical regions. The proportion of worried children was higher among distraught parents. CONCLUSION Parents' worry during the health pandemic was not triggered by the health risks factors but by the financial risk due to income change. The study depicts inequality in the impact of COVID-19 by ethnic background. Different policies and reported virus case numbers across states may have modified the behaviour of variables contributing to the geography of parents' worry. Exposure to stressors before the COVID-19 pandemic may have helped parents develop coping strategies during stressful events. Parents are encouraged to limit their exposure to stressful news. We advocate for parents-specific tailored policies and emphasise the need for access to appropriate mental health resources for those in need. Advancing research in geographical modelling for mental health may aid in devising much-needed location-targeted interventions and prioritising resources in future events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roula Zougheibe
- School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University, Kent Street, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia.
| | - Ashraf Dewan
- School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University, Kent Street, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Richard Norman
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Ori Gudes
- School of Population Health, UNSW Medicine, New South Wales, Australia
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11
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Espinosa L, Singh L, Eimer T, Olsson A, Holmes EA. Reading others' social appraisals after viewing an aversive film online impacts mood but not intrusive memories. J Anxiety Disord 2023; 99:102763. [PMID: 37657150 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to aversive footage online can affect our well-being, but to what extent does reading others' appraisals of this content modulate our affective responses? In a pre-registered online study (N = 170), we used a digital trauma film paradigm as an analogue for the naturalistic exposure to aversive visual content online. We investigated whether online social reappraisal about the film influenced acute affective responses and subsequent intrusive memories. First, we examined whether the digital trauma film paradigm induced similar affective responses as in-lab experiments (within-subjects; change in negative mood and intrusive memories of the film during seven days). Participants reported a negative mood change and experienced intrusive memories of the film, extending findings from in-lab experiments. Next, we tested a social reappraisal manipulation that provides written comments from (fictitious) previous participants (between-subjects; reading positive, negative, or no comments) modulated participants' affective responses. As predicted, relative to controls and negative comments, reading positive comments decreased negative mood. However, reading negative comments did not increase negative mood. Contrary to predictions, the social reappraisal manipulation did not modulate the number of intrusive memories. Findings suggest the benefit of positive social reappraisal for mitigating negative mood, but not intrusive memories following aversive film content online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Espinosa
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Nobels väg 9, 171 65 Solna, Sweden.
| | - Laura Singh
- Uppsala University, Department of Psychology, Von Kraemers allé 1A, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tabea Eimer
- KU Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Tiensestraat 102, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andreas Olsson
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Nobels väg 9, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Emily A Holmes
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Nobels väg 9, 171 65 Solna, Sweden; Uppsala University, Department of Psychology, Von Kraemers allé 1A, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
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12
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Takarangi MKT, Bridgland VME, Simister ET. A nervous wait: Instagram's sensitive-content screens cause anticipatory anxiety but do not mitigate reactions to negative content. Cogn Emot 2023:1-15. [PMID: 37743724 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2023.2258574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Online platforms like Instagram cover potentially distressing imagery with a sensitive-content screen (blurred imagery plus a content warning). Previous research suggests people typically choose to "uncover" and view screened content. In three studies, we investigated whether the presence of screens mitigates the negative emotional impact of viewing content. In Study 1, participants viewed positive and neutral images, and screens (with an option to view the negative images beneath) for a 5-minute period. In Study 2, half the participants saw a grey mask in place of the typical sensitive-content screen. In addition, each image appeared for a fixed period (5 s) and participants had no option to uncover it. Study 3 was like Study 2 except half the participants saw negative images preceded by a sensitive-content screen and half saw negative images without screens. Overall, participants reported a significant increase in state anxiety and negative affect from pre-to post task when they were exposed to sensitive-content screens, whether or not they were also exposed to the negative imagery beneath. Our data suggest sensitive-content screens cause negative responses - state anxiety and negative affect - that do not translate to an emotional benefit when people view negative content.
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13
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Jović M, Šubelj L, Golob T, Makarovič M, Yasseri T, Krstićev DB, Škrbić S, Levnajić Z. Terrorist attacks sharpen the binary perception of "Us" vs. "Them". Sci Rep 2023; 13:12451. [PMID: 37528134 PMCID: PMC10394060 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39035-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Terrorist attacks not only harm citizens but also shift their attention, which has long-lasting impacts on public opinion and government policies. Yet measuring the changes in public attention beyond media coverage has been methodologically challenging. Here we approach this problem by starting from Wikipedia's répertoire of 5.8 million articles and a sample of 15 recent terrorist attacks. We deploy a complex exclusion procedure to identify topics and themes that consistently received a significant increase in attention due to these incidents. Examining their contents reveals a clear picture: terrorist attacks foster establishing a sharp boundary between "Us" (the target society) and "Them" (the terrorist as the enemy). In the midst of this, one seeks to construct identities of both sides. This triggers curiosity to learn more about "Them" and soul-search for a clearer understanding of "Us". This systematic analysis of public reactions to disruptive events could help mitigate their societal consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Jović
- Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Lovro Šubelj
- Faculty of Computer and Information Science, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tea Golob
- School of Advanced Social Studies, Nova Gorica, Slovenia
- Faculty of Information Studies in Novo Mesto, Novo Mesto, Slovenia
| | - Matej Makarovič
- School of Advanced Social Studies, Nova Gorica, Slovenia
- Faculty of Information Studies in Novo Mesto, Novo Mesto, Slovenia
| | - Taha Yasseri
- School of Sociology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Geary Institute for Public Policy, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Danijela Boberić Krstićev
- Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Srdjan Škrbić
- Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Faculty of Information Studies in Novo Mesto, Novo Mesto, Slovenia
| | - Zoran Levnajić
- Faculty of Information Studies in Novo Mesto, Novo Mesto, Slovenia.
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14
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Brülhart M, Klotzbücher V, Lalive R. Young people's mental and social distress in times of international crisis: evidence from helpline calls, 2019-2022. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11858. [PMID: 37481636 PMCID: PMC10363110 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39064-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
We document mental and social distress of children, adolescents and adults, using data on 3 million calls to German helplines between January 2019 and May 2022. High-frequency data from crisis helpline logs offer rich information on the evolution of "revealed distress" among the most vulnerable, unaffected by researchers' study design and framing. Distress of adults, measured by the volume of calls, rose significantly after both the outbreak of the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In contrast, the overall revealed distress of children and adolescents did not increase during those crises. The nature of young people's concerns, however, changed more strongly than for adults after the COVID-19 outbreak. Consistent with the effects of social distancing, call topics of young people shifted from problems with school and peers to problems with family and mental health. We find the share of severe mental health problems among young people to have increased with a delay, in the second and third year of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Brülhart
- Faculty of Business and Economics (HEC Lausanne), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- CEPR, London, UK
| | | | - Rafael Lalive
- Faculty of Business and Economics (HEC Lausanne), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- CEPR, London, UK.
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Relihan DP, Jones NM, Holman EA, Silver RC. Shared social identity and media transmission of trauma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11609. [PMID: 37463937 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33898-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
When an individual or group trauma becomes a shared public experience through widespread media coverage (e.g., mass violence, being publicly outed), sharing a social identity with a targeted individual or group of victims may amplify feelings of personal vulnerability. This heightened perceived threat may draw people to engage with trauma-related media because of increased vigilance for self-relevant threats, which can, in turn, amplify distress. We studied this possibility among two U.S. national samples following the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, FL (N = 4675) and the 2018 Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court Senate hearings (N = 4894). Participants who shared LGBT or Hispanic identities with Pulse massacre victims reported greater exposure to massacre-related media and acute stress. Participants who shared Dr. Blasey Ford's identities as a victim of interpersonal violence and a Democrat reported more hearings-related media exposure and acute stress. Indirect effects of shared single identity on acute stress through self-reported event-related media exposure emerged in both studies. Results for sharing dual identities with victims were mixed. These findings have implications for media use and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Relihan
- Department of Psychological Science, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-7085, USA
| | - Nickolas M Jones
- Department of Psychological Science, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-7085, USA
| | - E Alison Holman
- Department of Psychological Science, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-7085, USA
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, Room 4517, Nursing and Health Sciences Hall, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Roxane Cohen Silver
- Department of Psychological Science, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-7085, USA.
- Department of Medicine and Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
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Chabbouh A, Hallit S, Farah N, Youssef C, Hankache A, Fekih-Romdhane F, Bitar Z, Obeid S. Examining correlates of aggression and mediating effect of psychological distress between exposure to media violence and aggression in lebanese adults. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:191. [PMID: 37386511 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01232-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Violent media is the most consumed type of media in Lebanon. Many studies have linked exposure to media violence to increased aggression and psychological distress. As Lebanon is going through socio-political turmoil, we aimed to [1] explore the correlates of aggression (i.e., sociodemographic factors, BMI, loneliness, social competence, and psychological distress) in a sample of Lebanese adults from the general population, and [2] to examine the mediating effect of psychological distress in the association between exposure to media violence and aggression in this sample. METHODOLOGY Adults were recruited through online convenience sampling. We employed scales to assess content-based media exposure (C-ME), aggression (BPAQ-SF), psychological distress (DASS-8), loneliness (JGLS), and perceived social competence (PSCS). RESULTS Exposure to media violence was associated with all four aggression subtypes (verbal, physical, hostility, and anger). Psychological distress partially mediated all these associations; higher exposure to media violence was significantly associated with more psychological distress, which was significantly associated with higher levels of all types of aggression. Moreover, higher exposure to media violence was significantly associated with higher levels of all types of aggression. CONCLUSION In the sociopolitical context of Lebanon, violent media could be considered a public hazard. Psychological distress likely potentiates the association between exposure to violent media and aggression. Future research should focus on determining what components of psychological distress underpin this mediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred Chabbouh
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Souheil Hallit
- School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Jounieh, P.O. Box 446, Lebanon.
- Applied Science Research Center, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan.
- Research Department, Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Jal Eddib, Lebanon.
| | - Nour Farah
- Research Department, Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Jal Eddib, Lebanon
| | - Christina Youssef
- School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Jounieh, P.O. Box 446, Lebanon
| | - Abdo Hankache
- School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Jounieh, P.O. Box 446, Lebanon
| | - Feten Fekih-Romdhane
- The Tunisian Center of Early Intervention in Psychosis, Department of Psychiatry "Ibn Omrane", Razi Hospital, Manouba, 2010, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Zeinab Bitar
- Faculty of Medicine, Paris-Saclay University, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Sahar Obeid
- Social and Education Sciences Department, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Jbeil, Lebanon
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Zhu XL, Wen Z, Yu WB. Effects of media exposure on PTSD symptoms in college students during the COVID-19 outbreak. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1050759. [PMID: 37228721 PMCID: PMC10203595 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1050759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective We aimed to investigate the influence of media on college students' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods After the COVID-19 outbreak, we used cross-sectional surveys through online questionnaires to investigate the mental health of college students in lockdown at home. We identified the influencing factors of PTSD symptoms using the Chi-Square test and ordinal logistic regression analysis. Results In 10,989 valid questionnaires, 9,906 college students with no PTSD symptoms, 947 college students with subclinical PTSD symptoms (1-3 items), and 136 college students with four or more PTSD symptoms were screened out. The results showed that media content impacted the mental health of college students in lockdown at home. Positive media content was negatively correlated with PTSD symptoms among college students. PTSD symptoms were not associated with sources of information. Moreover, College students with PTSD symptoms would reduce their willingness to learn and could not complete online learning efficiently. Conclusion PTSD symptoms are related to media exposure and excessive information involvement of COVID-19 in college students, which influences the willingness to attend online classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Li Zhu
- Department of Students Affair, Nanjing Institute of Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhu Wen
- Department of Psychology, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Bo Yu
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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18
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Mental health of people living in Taiwan under global threats. Psychiatry Res 2023; 323:115181. [PMID: 37001487 PMCID: PMC10040233 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
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Van Overmeire R, Stene LE, Vandekerckhove M, Six S, Deschepper R, Bilsen J. Threat through the Screen? Association between Proximity and/or Watching Media Coverage of a Terrorist Attack and Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2876. [PMID: 36833572 PMCID: PMC9956931 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20042876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION After terrorist attacks, media coverage of the attacks is extensive. There are some indications that there is an association between watching the media coverage and certain health reactions, both mental and somatic. Most studies occur in the United States and often months after the initial attack. In the current study, we investigated the terrorist attacks in Belgium on 22 March 2016. METHODS An online cross-sectional survey was conducted one week after the attacks among the general population of Belgium. We measured hours of media watching of the terrorist attacks (hereafter media watching), adjusted scales of the Patient Health Questionaire-4 (PHQ-4) to measure mental symptoms and the Patient Health Questionaire-15 (PHQ-15) to measure somatic symptoms, proximity to Brussels (home, work and overall proximity) and background factors such as gender, age and level of education. Respondents were included if they answered the survey between 29 March 2016 and 5 April 2016. RESULTS A total of 2972 respondents were included. Overall, media watching was significantly associated with both mental symptoms (p < 0.001) and somatic symptoms (p < 0.001), while controlling for age, gender, level of education and proximity. Watching more than three hours of media was associated with more mental and somatic symptoms (p < 0.001). Compared to proximity, media watching was, in general, a better association. For geographical factors, watching more than three hours of media indicated equally high scores for mental symptoms and somatic symptoms as work proximity (p = 0.015) and overall proximity to the attacks (p = 0.024). CONCLUSION Media-watching is associated with acute health reactions after terrorist attacks. However, the direction of the relationship is unclear, as it might also be that people with health issues seek out more media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roel Van Overmeire
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Research Group, Department of Public Health, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
- Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies (NKVTS), 0484 Oslo, Norway
| | - Lise Eilin Stene
- Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies (NKVTS), 0484 Oslo, Norway
| | - Marie Vandekerckhove
- Faculty of Psychology & Educational Science, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, University of Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Six
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Research Group, Department of Public Health, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Reginald Deschepper
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Research Group, Department of Public Health, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Johan Bilsen
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Research Group, Department of Public Health, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
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20
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Bauldry S, Stainback K. Media consumption and psychological distress among older adults in the United States. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0279587. [PMID: 36584144 PMCID: PMC9803103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The consumption of news media covering national and global events, particularly those that invoke fear or worry, such as pandemics or terrorist attacks, may affect older adults' mental wellbeing. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, this research analyzes nationally representative data from older adults in the US to address the following research questions: (1) What is the relationship between COVID-19-based media consumption and psychological distress? (2) Does any relationship between media consumption and psychological distress vary by gender, race/ethnicity, education, and marital status? Results indicate that (1) older adults who closely followed the news about the pandemic scored higher on psychological distress than those following less closely and (2) this relationship was more pronounced among Hispanic older adults. These findings are contextualized in the broader stress process model with a focus on a macro-level stressor and differential exposure and vulnerability resulting in variability in the relationship between the stressor and psychological distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn Bauldry
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Kevin Stainback
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
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21
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Ramsay-Seaner K, Sandusky B, Heckmann C, Knippling K, East C. Culturally Responsive Teaching Recommendations for the Inclusion of Multimedia in Counselor Education. JOURNAL OF CREATIVITY IN MENTAL HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/15401383.2022.2151718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kristine Ramsay-Seaner
- School of Education, Counseling & Human Development, South Dakota State University, Brookings, Dakota, USA
| | - Blake Sandusky
- Department of Psychology and Counseling, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA
| | - Charlotte Heckmann
- School of Education, Counseling & Human Development, South Dakota State University, Brookings, Dakota, USA
| | - Kanbi Knippling
- Phyllis J. Washington College of Education Department of Counseling, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Courtney East
- College of Education Master of Arts in Counseling, Doane University, Crete, Montana, USA
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22
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PettyJohn ME, Anderson G, McCauley HL. Exploring Survivor Experiences on Social Media in the #MeToo Era: Clinical Recommendations for Addressing Impacts on Mental Health and Relationships. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2022; 37:NP20677-NP20700. [PMID: 34861795 DOI: 10.1177/08862605211055079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Since the inception of the viral #MeToo Movement in 2017, news coverage of sexual assault incidents and related public discourse have become much more prevalent on social media platforms. While this hashtag activism has prompted important social discourse, little is known about how exposure to this type of trauma-related content affects survivors of sexual violence navigating these online spaces. To explore this phenomenon, we conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with young adult women survivors of sexual assault who regularly use social media (e.g., Facebook and Twitter). Participants were asked to reflect on sexual assault-related content (i.e., news stories and related public discourse) which they have observed on social media platforms. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data found survivors described (1) negative changes to their mental health and relationships in the face of these exposures, (2) certain types of content (e.g., rape culture narratives) which were particularly distressing to them, (3) how they coped with distress tied to this exposure, and (4) recommendations for clinicians on how to help survivors navigate social media in a healthier way. The present study is a first step toward understanding the impact of online social movements on trauma survivors and provides concrete clinical recommendations for therapists working with sexual assault survivors in this unique post-#MeToo context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E PettyJohn
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, 3078Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Grace Anderson
- Department of Psychology, 3078Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Heather L McCauley
- School of Social Work, 3078Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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23
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Thompson RR, Jones NM, Freeman AM, Holman EA, Garfin DR, Silver RC. Psychological responses to U.S. statewide restrictions and COVID-19 exposures: A longitudinal study. Health Psychol 2022; 41:817-825. [PMID: 36251253 PMCID: PMC9727834 DOI: 10.1037/hea0001233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The COVID-19 pandemic has generated debate as to whether community-level behavioral restrictions are worth the emotional costs of such restrictions. Using a longitudinal design, we juxtaposed the relative impacts of state-level restrictions and case counts with person-level direct and media-based exposures on distress, loneliness, and traumatic stress symptoms (TSS) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. METHOD From March 18, 2020 to April 18, 2020 and September 9, 2020 to October 16, 2020, a representative probability sample of U.S. adults (N = 5,594) completed surveys of their psychological responses and personal direct and media-based exposures to the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey data were merged with publicly available data on the stringency of state-level mitigation policies (e.g., school/business closures) during this period and longitudinal case/death counts for each state. RESULTS Three multilevel models (outcomes: distress, loneliness, TSS) were constructed. Measurements of dependent variables (Level 1) were nested within respondents (Level 2) who were nested within states (Level 3). State-level mitigation, cases, or deaths were not associated with any dependent variables (all p's > .05). However, person-level exposures, including having contracted COVID-19 oneself (distress b = .22, p < .001; loneliness b = .13, p = .03; TSS b = .18, p = .001), knowing others who were sick (distress b = .04, p < .001; loneliness b = .02, p < .001; TSS b = .05, p < .001) or died (distress b = .10, p = .001; loneliness b = .10, p = .003; TSS b = .16, p < .001), and exposure to pandemic-related media (distress b = .12, p < .001; loneliness b = .09, p < .001; TSS b = .16, p < .001), were positively associated with outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Personal exposures to COVID-19 are more strongly associated with psychological outcomes than statewide mitigations levied to stop disease spread. Results may inform public health response planning for future disease outbreaks. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nickolas M. Jones
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine
| | - Apphia M. Freeman
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine
| | - E. Alison Holman
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine
| | - Dana Rose Garfin
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine
| | - Roxane Cohen Silver
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
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Bosmans MWG, Plevier C, Schutz F, Stene LE, Yzermans CJ, Dückers MLA. The impact of a terrorist attack: Survivors’ health, functioning and need for support following the 2019 Utrecht tram shooting 6 and 18 months post-attack. Front Psychol 2022; 13:981280. [DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.981280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundExtremely violent events such as terrorist attacks and mass shootings form a severe risk for the health and wellbeing of affected individuals. In this study based on a public health monitor, we focus on the health impact (including PTSD symptoms, physical problems and day-to-day functioning) of the Utrecht tram shooting, which took place in the morning of March 18th 2019. A lone gunman opened fire on passengers within a moving tram. Four people died, and six people were injured in this attack. The attack resulted in nationwide commotion and drew much media attention. Aim of this study was to increase insight into the health effects for the survivors (those directly impacted by a terrorist attack and the bereaved), and whether they received the needed care and support.MethodsSemi-structured interviews with accompanying questionnaires were conducted at six and 18 months post-attack. Overall, 21 survivors (victims/witnesses and loved ones of deceased victims) participated in the first series of interviews, 15 in the second series. Qualitative data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, quantitative data was only described because of the low sample size.ResultsAt both six and 18 months after the attack many survivors had been able to resume daily life, and most rated their overall health as (very) good or excellent. At the same time, a substantial portion suffered from health problems such as posttraumatic stress symptoms and other complaints, and needed professional care. Furthermore, those in need did not always find their own way to appropriate care through the existing health system: half of the survivors still needed support in finding the right care 18 months later.ConclusionAlthough the design and implementation of this public health monitor were accompanied by multiple challenges, it was possible to track a portion of the survivors and gain insight in the considerable health burden of the attack. Also, it is clear in this study that the health impact of terrorism affects survivors in the long run and requires attention from health authorities and professionals, as survivors were not able to find the right care by themselves.
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25
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Garfin DR, Thompson RR, Wong-Parodi G. Media exposure, threat processing, and mitigation behaviors in Gulf Coast residents facing the co-occurring threats of COVID-19 and hurricanes. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2022; 43:10.1111/risa.14032. [PMID: 36217752 PMCID: PMC9874480 DOI: 10.1111/risa.14032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The 2020 hurricane season threatened millions of Americans concurrently grappling with COVID-19. Processes guiding individual-level mitigation for these conceptually distinct threats, one novel and chronic (COVID-19), the other familiar and episodic (hurricanes), are unknown. Theories of health protective behaviors suggest that inputs from external stimuli (e.g., traditional and social media) lead to threat processing, including perceived efficacy (self- and response) and perceived threat (susceptibility and severity), guiding mitigation behavior. We surveyed a representative sample of Florida and Texas residents (N = 1846) between April 14, 2020 and April 27, 2020; many had previous hurricane exposure; all were previously assessed between September 8, 2017 and September 11, 2017. Using preregistered analyses, two generalized structural equation models tested direct and indirect effects of media exposure (traditional media, social media) on self-reported (1) COVID-19 mitigation (handwashing, mask-wearing, social distancing) and (2) hurricane mitigation (preparation behaviors), as mediated through perceived efficacy (self- and response) and perceived threat (susceptibility and severity). Self-efficacy and response efficacy were associated with social distancing (p = .002), handwashing, mask-wearing, and hurricane preparation (ps < 0.001). Perceived susceptibility was positively associated with social distancing (p = 0.017) and hurricane preparation (p < 0.001). Perceived severity was positively associated with social distancing (p < 0.001). Traditional media exhibited indirect effects on COVID-19 mitigation through increased response efficacy (ps < 0.05), and to a lesser extent self-efficacy (p < 0.05), and on hurricane preparation through increased self-efficacy and response efficacy and perceived susceptibility (ps < 0.05). Social media did not exhibit indirect effects on COVID-19 or hurricane mitigation. Communications targeting efficacy and susceptibility may encourage mitigation behavior; research should explore how social media campaigns can more effectively target threat processing, guiding protective actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Rose Garfin
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rebecca R. Thompson
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Gabrielle Wong-Parodi
- Department of Earth Systems Science | Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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Revealing Personality Triggers for Media Vicarious Traumatization: A Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10101850. [PMID: 36292302 PMCID: PMC9601371 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10101850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
People may experience media vicarious traumatization due to frequent exposure to media coverage of disasters. Currently, the influential relationship between personality traits and media vicarious traumatization still lacks systematic and in-depth research. Based on the MU5735 airplane crash, this study explored the effects of configurations of personality traits on media vicarious traumatization by analyzing data from 331 Chinese university students (Mage = 22.63 years, SD = 2.67, range = 18 to 29, n = 186 male and n = 145 female) using Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). The results revealed that five combinations of the Big Five personality traits could lead to media vicarious traumatization, the combinations of configurations are: (1) high conscientiousness, high agreeableness, and high neuroticism; (2) high conscientiousness, high extraversion, and high agreeableness; (3) high extraversion, high neuroticism, low conscientiousness, and low agreeableness; (4) high openness, high extraversion, high agreeableness, and high neuroticism; (5) high extraversion, high agreeableness, low openness, and low neuroticism. Furthermore, sociodemographic variables (gender, age, and education) interacted with personality traits and also resulted in different configurations of media vicarious traumatization. This study indicates the asymmetric relationships between personality traits and media vicarious traumatization, identifies the vulnerable groups to facilitate targeted trauma interventions for university students according to different configurations, and provides a reference for public psychological relief efforts in emergencies.
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First JM, Shin H, Figueroa-Caballero A, Okker-Edging K, Spialek ML, Houston JB. Posttraumatic Stress Related to Orlando Nightclub Shooting: LGBTQ Identity and Media Use. JOURNAL OF LOSS & TRAUMA 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/15325024.2022.2116823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. First
- College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Haejung Shin
- Department of Communication, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Katherine Okker-Edging
- Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - J. Brian Houston
- Department of Communication, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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28
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Ren R, Yan B. Personal network protects, social media harms: Evidence from two surveys during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychol 2022; 13:964994. [PMID: 36072053 PMCID: PMC9441876 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.964994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The classic debate regarding the complex relationships between personal network, social media use, and mental well-being requires renewed examination in the novel context of pandemic-related social isolation. Data and method We present two surveys conducted at (i) the earlier months of the pandemic and (ii) the end of large scale social-lockdown measures in the U.S. to explore the social and behavioral antecedents of mental health states relating to social media use. Study 1 tracked the longitudinal changes of personal network, social media use, and anxiety level of a group of individuals (N = 147) over a three-month period during the pandemic. Study 2 replicated and extended the theoretical model to a race-representative U.S. adult sample (N = 258). Results Both studies consistently show that (1) more time on social media worsens anxiety. It also mediates the relationship between personal network size and anxiety. That is, a small personal network predicts more social media use, which is in turn related to increased anxiety. (2) Moreover, the effect of social media use on anxiety is mainly explained by news consumption on social media, rather than non-news related usage. (3) This link’s strength is moderated by one’s perception of COVID-19 impact, such that news consumption on social media increases anxiety more when the perceived impact is higher. Conclusion These results demonstrate communication technologies’ increasingly critical and multifaceted role in affecting mental health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruqin Ren
- Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Ruqin Ren,
| | - Bei Yan
- School of Business, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, United States
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Holman EA, Jones NM, Garfin DR, Silver RC. Distortions in time perception during collective trauma: Insights from a national longitudinal study during the COVID-19 pandemic. PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA : THEORY, RESEARCH, PRACTICE AND POLICY 2022:2022-88055-001. [PMID: 35925689 PMCID: PMC9898469 DOI: 10.1037/tra0001326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE During the protracted collective trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic, lay of distorted perceptions of time (e.g., time slowing, days blurring together, uncertainty about the future) have been widespread. Known as "temporal disintegration" in psychiatric literature, these distortions are associated with negative mental health consequences. However, the prevalence and predictors of temporal disintegration are poorly understood. We examined perceptions of time passing and their associations with lifetime stress and trauma and pandemic-related secondary stress as COVID-19 spread across the United States. METHOD A probability-based national sample (N = 5,661) from the NORC AmeriSpeak online panel, which had completed a mental and physical health survey prior to the pandemic, completed two surveys online during March 18-April 18, 2020, and September 26-October 16, 2020. Distorted time perceptions and other pandemic-related experiences were assessed. RESULTS Present focus, blurring weekdays and weekdays together, and uncertainty about the future were common experiences reported by over 65% of the sample 6 months into the pandemic. Half of the sample reported time speeding up or slowing down. Predictors of temporal disintegration include prepandemic mental health diagnoses, daily pandemic-related media exposure and secondary stress (e.g., school closures, lockdown), financial stress, and lifetime stress and trauma exposure. CONCLUSION During the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, distortions in time perception were very common and associated with prepandemic mental health, lifetime stress and trauma exposure, and pandemic-related media exposure and stressors. Given that temporal disintegration is a risk factor for mental health challenges, these findings have potential implications for public mental health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Alison Holman
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine,Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine
| | - Nickolas M. Jones
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine
| | - Dana Rose Garfin
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine,Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine
| | - Roxane Cohen Silver
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine,Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine
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Garfin DR, Holman EA, Fischhoff B, Wong-Parodi G, Silver RC. Media exposure, risk perceptions, and fear: Americans' behavioral responses to the Ebola public health crisis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION : IJDRR 2022; 77:103059. [PMID: 37275557 PMCID: PMC10237114 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We examined media exposure, psychological fear and worry, perceptions of risk, and health protective behaviors surrounding the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak in a probability-based, representative, national sample of Americans (N = 3447). Structural equation models examined relationships between amount (hours/day) and content (e.g., graphic images of dead bodies) of media exposure and counts of self-reported health protective behaviors that participants performed or would perform if Ebola spread to their community. Ebola-related risk perceptions and fear and worry were potential mediators. Greater total hours and more graphic media exposure positively correlated with more fear and worry; greater total hours of media exposure also positively correlated with higher perceived risk. Higher risk perceptions were associated with more health protective behaviors performed and intended. Greater fear and worry were associated with more behaviors performed. Amount and content of media exposure exhibited indirect effects on behaviors performed; amount of media exposure had indirect effects on intentions. Media may help promote health protective behaviors during public health threats; the amount and content should be congruent with threat to minimize distress and maximize resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Rose Garfin
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine, USA
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - E. Alison Holman
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine, USA
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Baruch Fischhoff
- Department of Engineering and Public Policy and Institute for Politics and Strategy, Carnegie Mellon University, USA
| | - Gabrielle Wong-Parodi
- Department of Earth System Science and Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, USA
| | - Roxane Cohen Silver
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, USA
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, USA
- School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, USA
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Williams DP, Jones NM, Holman EA. Racial and ethnic differences in perseverative cognition at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Soc Sci Med 2022; 306:115105. [PMID: 35724589 PMCID: PMC9161684 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Rationale Coronavirus (COVID-19) disproportionately affects people of color (e.g., Black and Latinx individuals) in the U.S., increasing their morbidity and mortality relative to White people. Despite this greater threat to their well-being, the mental health impact of COVID-19 on people of color remains poorly understood. Perseverative cognition (PC; i.e., excessive worry and/or rumination), is a common psychological response to such threats that independently associates with poor mental and physical health. Objective To examine patterns of PC across race/ethnicity when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Methods This study surveyed 6,514 respondents from the NORC AmeriSpeak panel, a probability-based representative national sample of U.S. adults between 3/18/20-4/18/20. We employed traditional statistical analyses and natural language processing of open-ended data to examine pandemic-related worries. Results Weighted regression analyses with relevant covariates revealed group differences across specific domains of COVID-related worry. Relative to White respondents, Hispanic/Latino respondents reported more worries about social disarray, meeting basic needs, experiencing economic impacts, obtaining healthcare, and contracting COVID-19. Black respondents reported more worry about economic impacts relative to Whites. Additional group differences in worry emerged in open-ended data: Black respondents perseverated about death from COVID-19, whereas Hispanic/Latino respondents reported concerns about COVID-19 spread, and people refusing to uphold mitigation mandates. In contrast, White respondents expressed worry over compromised immune systems and economic collapse. Conclusions Results identify significant group differences in COVID-19 related PC, suggesting that people of color faced greater threat to mental well-being at the onset of the pandemic, and may be at greater risk for downstream PC-related physical health consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- DeWayne P Williams
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Nickolas M Jones
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - E Alison Holman
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, USA; Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine, USA.
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Schaffler Y, Kuska M, Barke A, Doering BK, Gossmann K, Meier Z, Kascakova N, Tavel P, Humer E, Pieh C, Stippl P, Schimböck W, Haid B, Probst T. Psychotherapists' Reports regarding the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Their Patients: A Cross-National Descriptive Study Based on the Social-Ecological Model (SEM). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:6825. [PMID: 35682406 PMCID: PMC9180390 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak has raised questions about how vulnerable groups experience the pandemic. Research that focuses on the view of individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions is still limited, and so are cross-country comparative surveys. We gathered our sample of qualitative data during the first lockdown after governmental measures against the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus came into force in Austria, Czechia, Germany, and Slovakia. A total of n = 1690 psychotherapists from four middle European countries answered the question of how the COVID-19 pandemic was addressed in sessions by their patients during the early stage of unprecedented public health conditions. We employed a descriptive qualitative methodology to determine themes following levels of the social-ecological model (SEM) regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic affected patients. At the public policy level, stressful environmental conditions concerned the governmental mitigation efforts. At the level of community/society, reported key themes were employment, restricted access to educational and health facilities, socioeconomic consequences, and the pandemic itself. Key themes at the interpersonal level regarded forced proximity, the possibility of infection of loved ones, childcare, and homeschooling. Key themes at the individual level were the possibility of contracting COVID-19, having to stay at home/isolation, and a changing environment. Within the SEM framework, adaptive and maladaptive responses to these stressors were reported, with more similarities than differences between the countries. A quantification of word stems showed that the maladaptive reactions predominated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Schaffler
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria; (M.K.); (E.H.); (C.P.); (T.P.)
| | - Martin Kuska
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria; (M.K.); (E.H.); (C.P.); (T.P.)
- College of Applied Psychology, 41155 Terezin, Czech Republic
| | - Antonia Barke
- Clinical and Biological Psychology, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, 85072 Eichstätt, Germany; (A.B.); (K.G.)
| | - Bettina K. Doering
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 16861 Neuruppin, Germany;
| | - Katharina Gossmann
- Clinical and Biological Psychology, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, 85072 Eichstätt, Germany; (A.B.); (K.G.)
| | - Zdenek Meier
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute (OUSHI), Palacky University Olomouc, 77111 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (Z.M.); (N.K.); (P.T.)
| | - Natalia Kascakova
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute (OUSHI), Palacky University Olomouc, 77111 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (Z.M.); (N.K.); (P.T.)
- Psychiatric-Psychotherapeutic Outpatient Clinic, Pro Mente Sana, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Tavel
- Olomouc University Social Health Institute (OUSHI), Palacky University Olomouc, 77111 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (Z.M.); (N.K.); (P.T.)
| | - Elke Humer
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria; (M.K.); (E.H.); (C.P.); (T.P.)
| | - Christoph Pieh
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria; (M.K.); (E.H.); (C.P.); (T.P.)
| | - Peter Stippl
- Austrian Federal Association for Psychotherapy, 1030 Vienna, Austria; (P.S.); (W.S.); (B.H.)
| | - Wolfgang Schimböck
- Austrian Federal Association for Psychotherapy, 1030 Vienna, Austria; (P.S.); (W.S.); (B.H.)
| | - Barbara Haid
- Austrian Federal Association for Psychotherapy, 1030 Vienna, Austria; (P.S.); (W.S.); (B.H.)
| | - Thomas Probst
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria; (M.K.); (E.H.); (C.P.); (T.P.)
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Garfin DR, Thompson RR, Holman EA, Wong-Parodi G, Silver RC. Association Between Repeated Exposure to Hurricanes and Mental Health in a Representative Sample of Florida Residents. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2217251. [PMID: 35708689 PMCID: PMC9204543 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.17251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE During the past century, more than 100 catastrophic hurricanes have impacted the Florida coast; climate change will likely be associated with increases in the intensity of future storms. Despite these annual threats to residents, to our knowledge, no longitudinal studies of representative samples at risk of hurricane exposure have examined psychological outcomes associated with repeated exposure. OBJECTIVE To assess psychosocial and mental health outcomes and functional impairment associated with repeated hurricane exposure. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this survey study, a demographically representative sample of Florida residents was assessed in the 60 hours prior to Hurricane Irma (wave 1: September 8-11, 2017). A second survey was administered 1 month after Hurricane Irma (wave 2: October 12-29, 2017), and a third survey was administered after Hurricane Michael (wave 3: October 22 to November 6, 2018). Data were analyzed from July 19 to 23, 2021. EXPOSURE Hurricanes Irma and Michael. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The main outcomes were posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), global distress, worry about future events (generalized worries), and functional impairment. Path models were used to assess associations of individual-level factors (prior mental health, recent adversity), prior storm exposures (loss and/or injury, evacuation), and direct, indirect, and media-based exposures to hurricanes Irma and Michael with those outcomes. Poststratification weights were applied to facilitate population-based inferences. RESULTS Of 2873 individuals administered the survey in wave 1, 1637 responded (57.0% completion rate) (894 [54.6%, weighted] women; mean [SD] age, 51.31 [17.50] years); 1478 in wave 2 (90.3% retention from wave 1) and 1113 in wave 3 (75.3% retention from wave 2) responded. Prior mental health ailments (b, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.07-0.28), prior hurricane-related loss and/or injury (b, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.02-0.17), hours of Hurricane Irma-related media exposure (b, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.02-0.04), being in an evacuation zone during Hurricane Irma and not evacuating (b, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.02-0.27), and loss and/or injury in Hurricane Irma (b, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.25-0.44) were positively associated with PTSS after Hurricane Irma; most associations persisted and were associated with responses to Hurricane Michael. Prior mental health ailments (b, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.03-0.17), hours of Hurricane Michael-related media exposure (b, 0.01; 95% CI, 0.003-0.02), hurricane Irma-related PTSS (b, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.34-0.50), recent individual-level adversity (b, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.005-0.05), being in an evacuation zone during Hurricane Irma and evacuating (b, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.002-0.19), and direct (b, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.16-0.55) and indirect (b, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.05-0.18) Hurricane Michael-related exposures were directly associated with Hurricane Michael-related PTSS. After Hurricane Michael, prior mental health ailments (b, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.06-0.28), and PTSS related to hurricanes Irma (b, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.001-0.22) and Michael (b, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.47-0.69) were associated with respondents' functional impairment. Analogous analyses using global distress and generalized worries as mediators of functional impairment yielded a similar pattern of results. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this survey study, repeated direct, indirect, and media-based exposures to hurricanes were associated with increased mental health symptoms among Florida residents who experienced hurricanes Irma and Michael, suggesting that people were sensitized to respond with more psychological symptoms over time. These results may inform targeted public health intervention efforts for natural disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Rose Garfin
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine
| | | | - E. Alison Holman
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine
| | - Gabrielle Wong-Parodi
- Earth System Science and Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Roxane Cohen Silver
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
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Clark KD, Lunn MR, Sherman ADF, Bosley HG, Lubensky ME, Obedin-Maliver J, Dastur Z, Flentje A. COVID-19 News and Its Association with the Mental Health of Sexual and Gender Minority Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2022; 8:e34710. [PMID: 35486805 PMCID: PMC9153913 DOI: 10.2196/34710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sexual and gender minority (SGM; people whose sexual orientation is not heterosexual or whose gender identity varies from what is traditionally associated with the sex assigned to them at birth) people experience high rates of trauma and substantial disparities in anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Exposure to traumatic stressors such as news related to COVID-19 may be associated with symptoms of anxiety and PTSD. Objective This study aims to evaluate the relationship of COVID-19 news exposure with anxiety and PTSD symptoms in a sample of SGM adults in the United States. Methods Data were collected between March 23 and August 2, 2020, from The PRIDE Study, a national longitudinal cohort study of SGM people. Regression analyses were used to analyze the relationship between self-reported news exposure and symptoms of anxiety using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and symptoms of COVID-19–related PTSD using the Impact of Events Scale-Revised. Results Our sample included a total of 3079 SGM participants. Each unit increase in COVID-19–related news exposure was associated with greater anxiety symptoms (odds ratio 1.77, 95% CI 1.63-1.93; P<.001) and 1.93 greater odds of PTSD (95% CI 1.74-2.14; P<.001). Conclusions Our study found that COVID-19 news exposure was positively associated with greater symptoms of anxiety and PTSD among SGM people. This supports previous literature in other populations where greater news exposure was associated with poorer mental health. Further research is needed to determine the direction of this relationship and to evaluate for differences among SGM subgroups with multiple marginalized identities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen D Clark
- Department of Nursing, University of New Hampshire, 4 Library Way, Durham, US
| | - Mitchel R Lunn
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, US.,The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, US.,Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, US
| | | | - Hannah G Bosley
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, US
| | - Micah E Lubensky
- The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, US.,Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, US
| | - Juno Obedin-Maliver
- The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, US.,Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, US.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, US
| | - Zubin Dastur
- The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, US.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, US
| | - Annesa Flentje
- The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, US.,Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, US
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Ciułkowicz M, Misiak B, Szcześniak D, Grzebieluch J, Maciaszek J, Rymaszewska J. The Portrait of Cyberchondria-A Cross-Sectional Online Study on Factors Related to Health Anxiety and Cyberchondria in Polish Population during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19074347. [PMID: 35410027 PMCID: PMC8998772 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has served as a magnifying glass for cyberchondria, while the internet emerged as one of the main sources of medical information and support. The core ambition of this study was to estimate the level of cyberchondria and describe the socio-demographic, clinical and pandemic-related factors affecting its severity amid the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was performed between 16 May 2020 and 29 December 2020 in Poland within a sample of 538 adult internet users. The online survey tool included a Polish adaptation of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-PL) and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI), complemented with a set of questions covering sociodemographic, clinical and pandemic-related factors. Participants were clustered according to severity of health anxiety and cyberchondria symptoms. The performed binary logistic regression indicated professional inactivity, having a chronic mental disorder and subjectively limited access to healthcare due to COVID-19 to be key determinants of severe health anxiety and cyberchondria. Cyberchondria might be a remarkable public health issue as large proportion of respondents from the analyzed sample population of internet users met the criteria for severe symptoms. Key determinants of intense cyberchondria corresponded with employment stability, mental resilience and accessibility of healthcare services, which could be greatly challenged amid the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Ciułkowicz
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland; (B.M.); (D.S.); (J.M.); (J.R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Błażej Misiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland; (B.M.); (D.S.); (J.M.); (J.R.)
| | - Dorota Szcześniak
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland; (B.M.); (D.S.); (J.M.); (J.R.)
| | - Jolanta Grzebieluch
- Department of Population Health, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Julian Maciaszek
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland; (B.M.); (D.S.); (J.M.); (J.R.)
| | - Joanna Rymaszewska
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland; (B.M.); (D.S.); (J.M.); (J.R.)
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Xue Y, Xu Q, Wang J, Lin H, Wang C, Lou X, Wu C, Mao Z, Fu X. Prevalence and Associated Factors for Elevated Depressive Symptoms in 386,924 Primary Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic Normalization in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19063406. [PMID: 35329093 PMCID: PMC8952816 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to assess the prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms and its associated factors during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among primary students in China. We included 386,924 students aged 6–12 years from three cities in Henan province, China, over the period 21–27 May 2021. The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 5.8%. Participants with high depressive symptoms were more likely to be senior urban primary students, and exhibited an insignificant increase in hand washing frequency, non-mask wearing behavior, higher error rates of cognition tests, and greater levels of worry and fear. The associated factors for high depressive symptoms were found to include age, sex, grade, location, worry level, fear level, cognitive status, and change in lifestyle after gaining knowledge about COVID-19. Our results suggest that governments need to focus on factors affecting the mental health of school-age children while combating COVID-19, as it would facilitate better decision making on the international and national level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Xue
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.X.); (Q.X.); (J.W.); (C.W.); (X.L.); (C.W.); (Z.M.)
| | - Qingqing Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.X.); (Q.X.); (J.W.); (C.W.); (X.L.); (C.W.); (Z.M.)
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.X.); (Q.X.); (J.W.); (C.W.); (X.L.); (C.W.); (Z.M.)
| | - Hualiang Lin
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China;
| | - Chongjian Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.X.); (Q.X.); (J.W.); (C.W.); (X.L.); (C.W.); (Z.M.)
| | - Xiaomin Lou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.X.); (Q.X.); (J.W.); (C.W.); (X.L.); (C.W.); (Z.M.)
| | - Cuiping Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.X.); (Q.X.); (J.W.); (C.W.); (X.L.); (C.W.); (Z.M.)
| | - Zhenxing Mao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.X.); (Q.X.); (J.W.); (C.W.); (X.L.); (C.W.); (Z.M.)
| | - Xiaoli Fu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.X.); (Q.X.); (J.W.); (C.W.); (X.L.); (C.W.); (Z.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-371-6778-1207
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Gaviria-Mendoza A, Mejía-Mazo DA, Duarte-Blandón C, Castrillón-Spitia JD, Machado-Duque ME, Valladales-Restrepo LF, Machado-Alba JE. Self-medication and the ‘infodemic’ during mandatory preventive isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ther Adv Drug Saf 2022; 13:20420986221072376. [PMID: 35237406 PMCID: PMC8882931 DOI: 10.1177/20420986221072376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic altered the supply and demand of
health services. This, together with the ‘infodemic’ and generalized panic,
could alter the patterns of self-medication in the population. The objective
was to characterize the patterns of self-medication in four cities of
Colombia during mandatory preventive isolation in 2020. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done in four Colombian cities during
mandatory national preventive isolation between June and September 2020. A
sample of 397 adults who responded to an online survey, based on the
Instrument for Systematic Data Collection for Self-medication
(Instrumento de Recolección Sistemática de Datos para la
Automedicación–IRIS-AM), was obtained. The use of social
networks (including WhatsApp) as the source of information about medications
was explored. Results: The 397 people surveyed had a median age of 31.0 years, and 58.2% were women.
The prevalence of self-medication during lockdown was 34.3%
(n = 136). Medications targeting the nervous system
(n = 117; 86.0% of those participants with
self-medication) and the musculoskeletal system (n = 68;
50.0%) were the most commonly used. Ten (7.4%) of the self-medicated
patients reported doing so to prevent COVID-19, and 15 (11.0%) named social
networks as the source of information. Conclusion: More than one-third of the participants reported self-medication during
COVID-19 lockdown, mainly with analgesic-type nervous system medications.
People who reported self-medication to prevent COVID-19 often got their
information from social networks, the Internet, and WhatsApp. Plain Language Summary
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Gaviria-Mendoza
- Grupo de Investigación en Farmacoepidemiología
y Farmacovigilancia, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira–Audifarma S.A.,
Pereira, Colombia Grupo de Investigación Biomedicina, Fundación
Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas, Pereira, Colombia
| | - Danny Alberto Mejía-Mazo
- Grupo de Investigación en Farmacoepidemiología
y Farmacovigilancia, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira–Audifarma S.A.,
Pereira, Colombia
| | - Carolina Duarte-Blandón
- Grupo de Investigación en Farmacoepidemiología
y Farmacovigilancia, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira–Audifarma S.A.,
Pereira, Colombia
| | - Juan Daniel Castrillón-Spitia
- Grupo de Investigación en Farmacoepidemiología
y Farmacovigilancia, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira–Audifarma S.A.,
Pereira, Colombia Grupo de Investigación Biomedicina, Fundación
Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas, Pereira, Colombia
| | - Manuel Enrique Machado-Duque
- Grupo de Investigación en Farmacoepidemiología
y Farmacovigilancia, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira–Audifarma S.A.,
Pereira, Colombia Grupo de Investigación Biomedicina, Fundación
Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas, Pereira, Colombia
| | - Luis Fernando Valladales-Restrepo
- Grupo de Investigación en Farmacoepidemiología
y Farmacovigilancia, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira–Audifarma S.A.,
Pereira, Colombia Grupo de Investigación Biomedicina, Fundación
Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas, Pereira, Colombia
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Lewis N, Sznitman SR. Too Much Information? Excessive Media Use, Maladaptive Coping, and Increases in Problematic Cannabis Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Psychoactive Drugs 2022; 54:207-216. [PMID: 35109774 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2022.2031355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
During a health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, the public depends on the media for accurate and up-to-date information. However, frequent use of media for COVID-19-related information may be associated with maladaptive coping, and with increased prevalence of substance use. This study examined indirect associations between the frequency of media use for information about COVID-19 and increases in cannabis use behaviors through maladaptive coping strategies. We use data from an online survey of Israeli adult cannabis users (N = 440), conducted in May of 2020, to test associations between media use frequency for COVID-19 information and three problematic cannabis use behaviors: increased cannabis use, increased use alone, and increased use before midday. Among all respondents, 41% agreed that their cannabis use had increased since the onset of the pandemic. Analyses showed that higher frequency of media use was positively associated with all three indicators of problematic cannabis use, and that associations were partly mediated by maladaptive coping strategies. Higher frequency of media use for information about COVID-19 may be an indicator of difficulty with coping and of increased risk of escalation of cannabis use. These results have implications for assessing and mitigating the risk of coping-motivated cannabis use during a crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nehama Lewis
- Department of Communication, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Bhushan B, Basu S, Ganai UJ. Post-traumatic Stress and Growth Among the Children and Adolescents in the Aftermath of COVID-19. Front Psychol 2022. [DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.791263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has enkindled many mental health problems across the globe. Prominent among them is the prevalence of post-traumatic stress (PTS) with hosts of its precipitating factors being present in the surrounding. With India witnessing severe impact of the second wave of COVID-19, marked by a large number of hospitalizations, deaths, unemployment, imposition of lockdowns, etc., its repercussions on children and adolescents demand particular attention. This study aims to examine the direct and the indirect exposure of COVID-19-related experiences on children and adolescents and its subsequent relationship with PTS and post-traumatic growth (PTG). The direct exposure was operationalized in terms of death or hospitalization in the family, while the indirect exposure was gauged in terms of exposure to media reports of the COVID situation. Data from 412 children and adolescents aged 9–20 years, collected online, revealed 68.9% of them with PTS. Interestingly, 39.8% of those reporting PTS were also experiencing PTG. Arousal appeared to be the most frequently reported characteristics of trauma. The multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) endorses significant difference between those with direct and indirect exposures to hospitalization. Those with direct exposure to hospitalization reported higher PTS. The indirect exposure of COVID-19-related news through electronic media was also significantly associated with higher PTS. Exposure through print media did not lead to significant difference in PTS, but those reading only magazines reported significantly higher PTG than not reading magazines. The findings are analyzed in the light of unfolding of events during the second wave of COVID-19 in India.
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Bhushan B, Basu S, Ganai UJ. Post-traumatic Stress and Growth Among the Children and Adolescents in the Aftermath of COVID-19. Front Psychol 2022; 12:791263. [PMID: 35153913 PMCID: PMC8828654 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.791263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has enkindled many mental health problems across the globe. Prominent among them is the prevalence of post-traumatic stress (PTS) with hosts of its precipitating factors being present in the surrounding. With India witnessing severe impact of the second wave of COVID-19, marked by a large number of hospitalizations, deaths, unemployment, imposition of lockdowns, etc., its repercussions on children and adolescents demand particular attention. This study aims to examine the direct and the indirect exposure of COVID-19-related experiences on children and adolescents and its subsequent relationship with PTS and post-traumatic growth (PTG). The direct exposure was operationalized in terms of death or hospitalization in the family, while the indirect exposure was gauged in terms of exposure to media reports of the COVID situation. Data from 412 children and adolescents aged 9–20 years, collected online, revealed 68.9% of them with PTS. Interestingly, 39.8% of those reporting PTS were also experiencing PTG. Arousal appeared to be the most frequently reported characteristics of trauma. The multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) endorses significant difference between those with direct and indirect exposures to hospitalization. Those with direct exposure to hospitalization reported higher PTS. The indirect exposure of COVID-19-related news through electronic media was also significantly associated with higher PTS. Exposure through print media did not lead to significant difference in PTS, but those reading only magazines reported significantly higher PTG than not reading magazines. The findings are analyzed in the light of unfolding of events during the second wave of COVID-19 in India.
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Charlson F, Ali S, Augustinavicius J, Benmarhnia T, Birch S, Clayton S, Fielding K, Jones L, Juma D, Snider L, Ugo V, Zeitz L, Jayawardana D, La Nauze A, Massazza A. Global priorities for climate change and mental health research. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106984. [PMID: 34991246 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Compared with other health areas, the mental health impacts of climate change have received less research attention. The literature on climate change and mental health is growing rapidly but is characterised by several limitations and research gaps. In a field where the need for designing evidence-based adaptation strategies is urgent, and research gaps are vast, implementing a broad, all-encompassing research agenda will require some strategic focus. METHODS We followed a structured approach to prioritise future climate change and mental health research. We consulted with experts working across mental health and climate change, both within and outside of research and working in high, middle, and low-income countries, to garner consensus about the future research priorities for mental health and climate change. Experts were identified based on whether they had published work on climate change and mental health, worked in governmental and non-governmental organisations on climate change and mental health, and from the professional networks of the authors who have been active in the mental health and climate change space. RESULTS Twenty-two experts participated from across low- and middle-income countries (n = 4) and high-income countries (n = 18). Our process identified ten key priorities for progressing research on mental health and climate change. CONCLUSION While climate change is considered the biggest threat to global mental health in the coming century, tackling this threat could be the most significant opportunity to shape our mental health for centuries to come because of health co-benefits of transitioning to more sustainable ways of living. Research on the impacts of climate change on mental health and mental health-related systems will assist decision-makers to develop robust evidence-based mitigation and adaptation policies and plans with the potential for broad benefits to society and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Charlson
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, Wacol, Qld, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Qld, Australia; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Suhailah Ali
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, Wacol, Qld, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Qld, Australia
| | - Jura Augustinavicius
- School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; MHPSS Collaborative hosted by Save the Children Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tarik Benmarhnia
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, USA
| | - Stephen Birch
- Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | | | - Kelly Fielding
- School of Communication and Arts, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Lynne Jones
- FXB Centre for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Damian Juma
- International Mental Health Association, USA
| | - Leslie Snider
- MHPSS Collaborative hosted by Save the Children Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Victor Ugo
- MHPSS Collaborative hosted by Save the Children Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Danusha Jayawardana
- Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Andrea La Nauze
- School of Economics, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Alessandro Massazza
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Li W, Khan AN. Investigating the Impacts of Information Overload on Psychological Well-being of Healthcare Professionals: Role of COVID-19 Stressor. INQUIRY: THE JOURNAL OF HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION, PROVISION, AND FINANCING 2022; 59:469580221109677. [PMID: 35912469 PMCID: PMC9340904 DOI: 10.1177/00469580221109677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
While past research has focused on the benefits of social media during pandemics, this study emphasizes the possible negative effects of social media use among healthcare professionals. It has been stated that healthcare professionals are exposed to COVID-19 and its impacts on the mental health of these workers. Even though recognizing the importance of healthcare professionals during the pandemic, the impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare professionals have been rarely considered for investigation by researchers. By applying differential susceptibility to the media effects model (DSMM), the current article investigated the effect of COVID-19 information overload (CIO) on psychological and mental well-being and underline mechanisms. Time-wave technique was applied to collect the data. This study tested moderated mediation model by collecting data from 314 healthcare professionals. The findings stated that COVID-19 information overload impacted COVID-19 fatalism and COVID-19 exhaustion directly. Likewise, COVID-19 fatalism mediated the association between CIO and COVID-19 exhaustion. Moreover, the COVID-19 stressor moderated this mediating relationship. This study proposes several practical recommendations for healthcare professionals, social media platform providers, health authorities, organizations, and institutions on how to use social media effectively and sustainably during the global COVID-19 epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- School of Economics and Management Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
- Research Center of Hubei Micro & Small Enterprises Development, School of Economics and Management, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ali Nawaz Khan
- School of Economics and Management Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
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Association between Perceived Trusted of COVID-19 Information Sources and Mental Health during the Early Stage of the Pandemic in Bangladesh. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 10:healthcare10010024. [PMID: 35052191 PMCID: PMC8775621 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10010024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Unverified information concerning COVID-19 can affect mental health. Understanding perceived trust in information sources and associated mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic is vital to ensure ongoing media coverage of the crisis does not exacerbate mental health impacts. A number of studies have been conducted in other parts of the world to determine associations between information exposure relating to COVID-19 and mental health. However, the mechanism by which trust in information sources may affect mental health is not fully explained in the developing country context. To address this issue, the present study examined associations between perceived trust in three sources of information concerning COVID-19 and anxiety/stress with the mediating effects of COVID-19 stress in Bangladesh. An online cross-sectional study was conducted with 744 Bangladeshi adults between 17 April and 1 May 2020. Perceived trust in traditional, social, and health media for COVID-19 information, demographics, frontline service status, COVID-19-related stressors, anxiety (GAD-7), and stress (PSS-4) were assessed via self-report. Linear regression tested for associations between perceived trust and mental health. Mediation analyses investigated whether COVID-19-related stressors affected perceived trust and mental health associations. In fully adjusted models, more trust in social media was associated with more anxiety (B = 0.03, CI = 0.27-0.97) and stress (B = 0.01, CI = -0.34-0.47), while more trust in traditional media was associated with more anxiety (B = 0.09, CI = 0.17-2.26) but less stress (B = -0.08, CI = -0.89-0.03). Mediation analyses showed that COVID-19-related stressors partially explained associations between perceived trust and anxiety. These findings suggest that trusting social media to provide accurate COVID-19 information may exacerbate poor mental health. These findings also indicate that trusting traditional media (i.e., television, radio, and the newspaper) may have stress-buffering effects. We recommend that responsible authorities call attention to concerns about the trustworthiness of social media as well as broadcast positive and authentic news in traditional media outcomes based on these results.
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Bounoua N, Goodling S, Sadeh N. Cross-Lagged Analysis of COVID-19-Related Worry and Media Consumption in a Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Sample of Community Adults. Front Psychol 2021; 12:728629. [PMID: 34955958 PMCID: PMC8692940 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.728629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in an array of mental health problems. Previous research has shown that media exposure to stressful situations is often related to anxiety and stress. However, given that most existing work has used cross-sectional designs, less is known about the interplay of media exposure and worry as they unfold during sustained exposure to a collective stressor. The current study examined bidirectional associations between COVID-related worry and media consumption over a three-month period. Participants were 87 community adults, the majority of whom were recruited from communities heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For three consecutive months, participants asked to indicate how much time they spent worrying and consuming news about the COVID-19 pandemic on a scale from 1 ("never") to 5 ("most of the day"). Cross-lagged analyses revealed that Pandemic Worry at Month 1 predicted increases in Pandemic Media Consumption at Month 2, which in turn predicted increases in Pandemic Worry at Month 3. Findings suggest that media consumption may be a maladaptive coping strategy that has the iatrogenic effect of increasing worry. Clarifying the causal associations between anxiety-perpetuating processes and media consumption may have important clinical implications for understanding and treating mental health during health pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Bounoua
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
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Sievwright O, Philipp M, Drummond A, Knapp K, Ross K. Misinformation effects in an online sample: results of an experimental study with a five day retention interval. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12299. [PMID: 34820164 PMCID: PMC8606120 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional face-to-face laboratory studies have contributed greatly to our understanding of how misinformation effects develop. However, an area of emerging concern that has been relatively under-researched is the impact of misinformation following exposure to traumatic events that are viewed online. Here we describe a novel method for investigating misinformation effects in an online context. Participants (N = 99) completed the study online. They first watched a 10-min video of a fictional school shooting. Between 5 and 10 days later, they were randomly assigned to receive misinformation or no misinformation about the video before completing a recognition test. Misinformed participants were less accurate at discriminating between misinformation and true statements than control participants. This effect was most strongly supported by ROC analyses (Cohen's d = 0.59, BF10 = 8.34). Misinformation effects can be established in an online experiment using candid violent viral-style video stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Sievwright
- School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Michael Philipp
- School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Aaron Drummond
- School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Katie Knapp
- Work-Learn Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Kirsty Ross
- School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Neural vulnerability and hurricane-related media are associated with post-traumatic stress in youth. Nat Hum Behav 2021; 5:1578-1589. [PMID: 34795422 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-021-01216-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The human toll of disasters extends beyond death, injury and loss. Post-traumatic stress (PTS) can be common among directly exposed individuals, and children are particularly vulnerable. Even children far removed from harm's way report PTS, and media-based exposure may partially account for this phenomenon. In this study, we examine this issue using data from nearly 400 9- to 11-year-old children collected before and after Hurricane Irma, evaluating whether pre-existing neural patterns moderate associations between hurricane experiences and later PTS. The 'dose' of both self-reported objective exposure and media exposure predicted PTS, the latter even among children far from the hurricane. Furthermore, neural responses in brain regions associated with anxiety and stress conferred particular vulnerability. For example, heightened amygdala reactivity to fearful stimuli moderated the association between self-reported media exposure and PTS. Collectively, these findings show that for some youth with measurable vulnerability, consuming extensive disaster-related media may offer an alternative pathway to disaster exposure that transcends geography and objective risk.
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Rosu MM, Cosmoiu A, Ianole-Călin R, Podina IR. When is reliable data effective? The role of media engagement in reducing the impact of fake news on worry regarding terrorism. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02427-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Jones R, Mougouei D, Evans SL. Understanding the emotional response to Covid-19 information in news and social media: A mental health perspective. HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES 2021; 3:832-842. [PMID: 34901769 PMCID: PMC8652655 DOI: 10.1002/hbe2.304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and ensuing social restrictions has been profound, affecting the health, livelihoods, and wellbeing of populations worldwide. Studies have shown widespread effects on mental health, with an increase in stress, loneliness, and depression symptoms related to the pandemic. Media plays a critical role in containing and managing crises, by informing society and fostering positive behavior change. Social restrictions have led to a large increase in reliance on online media channels, and this can influence mental health and wellbeing. Anxiety levels, for instance, may be exacerbated by exposure to COVID‐related content, contagion of negative sentiment among social networks, and “fake news.” In some cases, this may trigger abstinence, leading to isolation and limited access to vital information. To be able to communicate distressing news during crises while protecting the wellbeing of individuals is not trivial; it requires a deeper understanding of people's emotional response to online and social media content. This paper selectively reviews research into consequences of social media usage and online news consumption for wellbeing and mental health, focusing on and discussing their effects in the context of the pandemic. Advances in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, for example, Natural Language Processing, Sentiment Analysis, and Emotion Recognition, are discussed as useful methods for investigating effects on population mental health as the pandemic situation evolves. We present suggestions for future research, and for using these advances to assess large data sets of users' online content, to potentially inform strategies that enhance the mental health of social media users going forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalind Jones
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Surrey Guildford UK
| | - Davoud Mougouei
- School of Sciences University of Southern Queensland Toowoomba Queensland Australia
| | - Simon L Evans
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Surrey Guildford UK
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Gouraud C, Airagnes G, Kab S, Courtin E, Goldberg M, Limosin F, Lemogne C, Zins M. Changes in benzodiazepine use in the French general population after November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris: an interrupted time series analysis of the national CONSTANCES cohort. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e044891. [PMID: 34535472 PMCID: PMC8451294 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine whether the terrorist attacks occurring in Paris on November 2015 have changed benzodiazepine use in the French population. DESIGN Interrupted time series analysis. SETTING National population-based cohort. PARTICIPANTS 90 258 individuals included in the population-based CONSTANCES cohort from 2012 to 2017. OUTCOME MEASURES Benzodiazepine use was evaluated according to two different indicators using objective data from administrative registries: weekly number of individuals with a benzodiazepine delivered prescriptions (BDP) and weekly number of defined daily dose (DDD). Two sets of analyses were performed according to sex and age (≤50 vs >50). Education, income and area of residence were additional stratification variables to search for at-risk subgroups. RESULTS Among women, those with younger age (incidence rate ratios (IRR)=1.18; 95% CI=1.05 to 1.32 for BDP; IRR=1.14; 95% CI=1.03 to 1.27 for DDD), higher education (IRR=1.23; 95% CI=1.03 to 1.46 for BDP; IRR=1.23; 95% CI=1.01 to 1.51 for DDD) and living in Paris (IRR=1.27; 95% CI=1.05 to 1.54 for BDP) presented increased risks for benzodiazepine use. Among participants under 50, an overall increase in benzodiazepine use was identified (IRR=1.14; 95% CI=1.02 to 1.28 for BDP and IRR=1.12; 95% CI=1.01 to 1.25 for DDD) and in several strata. In addition to women, those with higher education (IRR=1.22; 95% CI=1.02 to 1.47 for BDP), lower income (IRR=1.17; 95% CI=1.02 to 1.35 for BDP) and not Paris residents (IRR=1.13; 95% CI=1.02 to 1.26 for BDP and IRR=1.13; 95% CI=1.03 to 1.26 for DDD) presented increased risks for benzodiazepine use. CONCLUSION Terrorist attacks might increase benzodiazepine use at a population level, with at-risk subgroups being particularly concerned. Information and prevention strategies are needed to provide appropriate care after such events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clement Gouraud
- Centre Ambulatoire d'Addictologie, AP-HP.Centre-Université de Paris, Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Airagnes
- Centre Ambulatoire d'Addictologie, AP-HP.Centre-Université de Paris, Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, Paris, France
| | - Sofiane Kab
- UMS 011, Population-based Epidemiological Cohorts, INSERM, Villejuif, France
| | - Emilie Courtin
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Marcel Goldberg
- UMS 011, Population-based Epidemiological Cohorts, INSERM, Villejuif, France
| | - Frédéric Limosin
- Service de Psychiatrie de l'adulte et du sujet âgé, AP-HP.Centre-Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Institut de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris (IPNP), UMR_S1266, Université de Paris, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Cedric Lemogne
- Service de Psychiatrie de l'adulte et du sujet âgé, AP-HP.Centre-Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Institut de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris (IPNP), UMR_S1266, Université de Paris, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Marie Zins
- UMS 011, Population-based Epidemiological Cohorts, INSERM, Villejuif, France
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Xu J, Liu C. Infodemic vs. Pandemic Factors Associated to Public Anxiety in the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study in China. Front Public Health 2021; 9:723648. [PMID: 34527653 PMCID: PMC8435678 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.723648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Every outbreak of an epidemic or pandemic disease is accompanied by the tsunami of information, which is also known as the infodemic. Infodemic makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it, and causes social panic about health, widens the gaps between races and regions, and even brings the social chaos all over the world. While most researchers and related parties made efforts to control the inaccurate information spreading online during the COVID-19 pandemic, the infodemic influence caused by the overload of accurate information were almost or completely ignored, and this will hinder the control of infodemic in future public health crises. This study aims to explore the infodemic vs. pandemic influence on people's psychological anxiety across different media sources in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study using online survey method was conducted by a data-collection service provider in April 2020. A total of 1,117 valid samples were finally collected from 5,203 randomly invited members via webpages and WeChat. The sample distribution covered the 30 provincial administrative divisions of mainland China. Results: Hierarchical regression analysis for the potential pandemic sources and infodemic sources of psychological anxiety showed that the infodemic factors of attention to the coronavirus information (β = 0.154, p < 0.001) and commercial media exposure (β = 0.147, p < 0.001) is positively related to the level of anxiety. Statistics indicated that influence of the infodemic factors is over and above that of the pandemic factors (ΔR 2 = 0.054, F = 14.199, and p < 0.001). Mediation analysis showed that information overload (B = 0.155, Boot SE = 0.022, and 95% Boot CI [0.112, 0.198]) mediates the link between attention to coronavirus information and anxiety; both information overload (B = 0.035, Boot SE = 0.014, and 95% Boot CI [0.009, 0.062]) and media vicarious traumatization (B = 0.106, Boot SE = 0.017, and 95% Boot CI [0.072, 0.140]) mediate the link between commercial media exposure and anxiety. Conclusion: This study suggested that the influence of infodemic with mixed accurate and inaccurate information on public anxiety does exist, which could possibly go beyond that of the pandemic. Information overload and vicarious traumatization explain how infodemic may be associated to public anxiety. Finally, commercial media could be a major source of infodemic in the Chinese media context. Implications for the related parties were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Xu
- School of Media and Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,China Institute for Urban Governance, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Cultural Innovation and Youth Development, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cong Liu
- School of Media and Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Cultural Innovation and Youth Development, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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