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Kaim A, Bodas M. The impact of 24/7 news coverage on the mental health of Israelis in the 'Iron Swords' War: A cross-sectional analysis among television audience. Stress Health 2024; 40:e3398. [PMID: 38544300 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
This study aims to assess the impact of continuous 24/7 news broadcasting on the mental well-being of Jewish Israelis during the 'Iron Swords' War and compare it to findings from the 2014 Conflict. An internet-based cross-sectional panel survey was conducted on 11-12 October 2023, during the 'Iron Swords' War. The study focused on Israel's adult Jewish population, enabling comparisons with a previous 2014 study. Participants reported news consumption changes, attitudes towards newscasts (burdensome, relaxing, stressful, addictive, Fear Of Missing Out [FOMO], avoidance), opinions on 24/7 news, and anxiety symptoms. Among 802 adult Jewish participants in Israel, 83.8% increased news consumption. While more than 70% of respondents found the newscast stressing at least a medium level, more than 40% said they do not try to avoid them at all. Nearly 24% found it much addictive. Women and younger individuals reported more FOMO, stress, and addiction. More than 70% reported experiencing at least one anxiety symptom, and 21% of all four. Linear regression explained 42.9% of the variance of reported anxiety, with gender, age, news stress, addiction, and FOMO as predictors. The current study results show an increase in all measurements compared to a separate study conducted using the same tools in 2014. Jewish Israelis struggled with news consumption during the recent war, harming mental health. Heightened anxiety was observed, compared to 2014, and affected all demographics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arielle Kaim
- The Department of Emergency & Disaster Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Moran Bodas
- The Department of Emergency & Disaster Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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Holman EA, Garfin DR, Silver RC. It matters what you see: Graphic media images of war and terror may amplify distress. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318465121. [PMID: 38968094 PMCID: PMC11260099 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318465121] [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] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Media exposure to graphic images of violence has proliferated in contemporary society, particularly with the advent of social media. Extensive exposure to media coverage immediately after the 9/11 attacks and the Boston Marathon bombings (BMB) was associated with more early traumatic stress symptoms; in fact, several hours of BMB-related daily media exposure was a stronger correlate of distress than being directly exposed to the bombings themselves. Researchers have replicated these findings across different traumatic events, extending this work to document that exposure to graphic images is independently and significantly associated with stress symptoms and poorer functioning. The media exposure-distress association also appears to be cyclical over time, with increased exposure predicting greater distress and greater distress predicting more media exposure following subsequent tragedies. The war in Israel and Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, provides a current, real-time context to further explore these issues as journalists often share graphic images of death and destruction, making media-based graphic images once again ubiquitous and potentially challenging public well-being. For individuals sharing an identity with the victims or otherwise feeling emotionally connected to the Middle East, it may be difficult to avoid viewing these images. Through a review of research on the association between exposure to graphic images and public health, we discuss differing views on the societal implications of viewing such images and advocate for media literacy campaigns to educate the public to identify mis/disinformation and understand the risks of viewing and sharing graphic images with others.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Alison Holman
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
| | - Dana Rose Garfin
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Roxane Cohen Silver
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
- Department of Health, Society, and Behavior, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
- Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
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Fekih-Romdhane F, Helmy M, Alhuwailah A, Shuwiekh HAM, Naser AY, Maalej E, Obeid S, Cheour M, Hallit S. Mediating effect of depression and acute stress between exposure to Israel-Gaza war media coverage and insomnia: a multinational study from five arab countries. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1498. [PMID: 38835005 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18996-8] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the context of persistent wars and conflicts worldwide, the impact of acute, excessive and constant exposure to media coverage of such events on mental health outcomes becomes a serious problem for public health, and requires therefore urgent investigation to inform an effective prevention and management response. The objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that war-related media exposure is directly and indirectly associated with insomnia through depression and perceived stress among adults from the general population of different Arab countries. METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried-out two weeks after the beginning of Israel-Gaza war on the 7th of October 2023. An anonymous online survey and a snowball sampling method were adopted to collect data. A sample of 2635 general population adults (mean age of 23.98 ± 7.55 years, 73.1% females) took part of this study. RESULTS The results of the mediation analysis showed that, after adjusting over potential confounders, depression and perceived stress fully mediated the association between war media exposure and insomnia; higher war media exposure was significantly associated with higher depression (Beta = 0.13; p < .001) and perceived stress (Beta = 0.07; p < .001), whereas higher depression (Beta = 0.43; p < .001) and perceived stress (Beta = 0.31; p < .001) were significantly associated with higher insomnia. It is of note that war media exposure was not significantly and directly associated with insomnia (Beta = - 0.01; p = .178 and Beta = 0.02; p = .098 respectively). CONCLUSION The present study is the first to provide evidence that more time spent viewing the horrors of war is significantly associated with insomnia. In addition, symptoms of stress and depression were present as early as two weeks following the beginning of the war, and played a significant role in mediating the association between war media coverage and insomnia. These findings suggest that timely screening for, and management of depression and stress symptoms in clinical and preventive programs might be beneficial for community adults who have been heavily and indirectly exposed to war through media, and present with insomnia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feten Fekih-Romdhane
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis Al Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia.
- The Tunisian Center of Early Intervention in Psychosis, Department of Psychiatry Ibn Omrane, Razi Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Mai Helmy
- Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt
- Psychology department, College of education, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | | | | | - Abdallah Y Naser
- Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, faculty of pharmacy, Isra University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Emna Maalej
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis Al Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
- The Tunisian Center of Early Intervention in Psychosis, Department of Psychiatry Ibn Omrane, Razi Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Sahar Obeid
- School of Arts and Sciences, Social and Education Sciences Department, Lebanese American University, Jbeil, Lebanon
| | - Majda Cheour
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis Al Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
- The Tunisian Center of Early Intervention in Psychosis, Department of Psychiatry Ibn Omrane, Razi Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Souheil Hallit
- School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, P.O. Box 446, Jounieh, Lebanon.
- Psychology Department, College of Humanities, Effat University, Jeddah, 21478, Saudi Arabia.
- Applied Science Research Center, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan.
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Associations between media exposure and mental health among children and parents after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2163127. [PMID: 37052091 PMCID: PMC9848268 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2022.2163127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Exposure to natural disaster media coverage is associated with mental health problems, but its long-term impacts are still unclear. Also, no study has analysed the psychological impact of exposure to natural disaster media coverage among children who are generally sensitive to threatening events.Objective: We aimed to examine how television images of victims after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake were associated with mental health among children and their parents.Methods: In 2012, questionnaires for sociodemographic factors were distributed to 2053 families. Parents who provided written consent were contacted in 2013 and invited to provide information on mental health problems (outcome) and retrospectively provide information on television watching at the time of the earthquake (exposure). We used data from 159 parents who completed the survey as the final sample. We used a dichotomous variable to evaluate exposure to media coverage. Multivariable regression was used to examine the association between exposure to television images of victims and mental health, adjusting for potential confounders. Bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrap confidence intervals (CIs) were used.Results: Exposure to television images of victims was significantly associated with worse psychopathology among children (β, 1.51; 95% CI, 0.07-2.96) and greater psychological distress among their parents (β, 1.49; 95% CI, 0.28-2.70). Child psychopathology and parental psychological distress were significantly correlated (r = 0.36, p < .001).Conclusions: Exposure to television images of disaster victims may produce long-term impacts on mental health among children and their parents. To reduce the likelihood of mental health problems associated with disasters, clinicians may recommend reducing exposure to television images of victims.
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Malecki WP, Bilandzic H, Kowal M, Sorokowski P. Media experiences during the Ukraine war and their relationships with distress, anxiety, and resilience. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 165:273-281. [PMID: 37549502 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.07.037] [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: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates the relationships between perceiving media as a positive or negative influence (both news media and fictional media) during the war in Ukraine in 2022 and anxiety, distress, and resilience. Corroborating existing research, our study (N = 393, 47.3% male) showed that there was a clear relationship between the perceived negative impact of both news and fictional media during the war and increased symptoms of anxiety (b = .09, SE = 0.04, p = .024; b = 0.16, SE = 0.04, p < .001, respectively) and distress (b = 0.08, SE = 0.04, p = .047; b = 0.17, SE = 0.04, p < .001, respectively) as well as lowered psychological resilience (b = -0.10, SE = 0.05, p = .047; b = -0.15, SE = 0.06, p = .009, respectively). The study is the first to demonstrate this association for fictional media. Contrary to expectations, however, the perception of a positive impact of both news and fiction was not associated with decreased symptoms of anxiety and distress or higher resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- W P Malecki
- Faculty of Philology, University of Wrocław, Plac Nankiera 15, 50-140, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Helena Bilandzic
- Department for Media, Knowledge and Communication, University of Augsburg, Universitätsstr. 10, 86159, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Marta Kowal
- Scientific Excellence Incubator 'Being Human', University of Wrocław, Plac Uniwersytecki 1, 50-137, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Piotr Sorokowski
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, Dawida 1, 50-527, Wrocław, Poland
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Lamba N, Khokhlova O, Bhatia A, McHugh C. Mental health hygiene during a health crisis: Exploring factors associated with media-induced secondary trauma in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Psychol Open 2023; 10:20551029231199578. [PMID: 37746585 PMCID: PMC10517610 DOI: 10.1177/20551029231199578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims Given the risk of developing vicarious trauma through news media has increased during the pandemic, we explored risk factors associated with media induced secondary trauma, and its behavioral and psychological implications. Methods An international study (N = 1066), with a diverse sample, was administered in July 2020. We used standardized and validated questionnaires to measure news consumption, media-related trauma, compliance, and paranoia. Results Greater frequency of news consumption, accessing news via social media and WHO, and believing in conspiracy theories increased likelihood of developing media-induced secondary trauma. News related trauma was associated with greater compliance with safety measures and increased paranoid ideation. Media-trauma however exhibited a greater association with paranoia than compliance. Conclusion Findings highlight the need to facilitate a collaborative intervention, with public, media houses, health safety officials, and social scientists to have a deeper understanding of potential psychological costs of news consumption patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishtha Lamba
- Department of Psychology, Middlesex University Dubai, Dubai, UAE
| | - Olga Khokhlova
- Department of Psychology, Middlesex University Dubai, Dubai, UAE
| | - Aditi Bhatia
- Department of Psychology, Middlesex University Dubai, Dubai, UAE
| | - Cillian McHugh
- Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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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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Furuya S, Fletcher JM, Zhao Z, Sun Z, Lu Q. Detecting genetic heterogeneities in response to trauma: The case of 9/11. SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2022; 2:100044. [PMID: 36688949 PMCID: PMC9854267 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2021.100044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study evaluates genetic heterogeneities in response to trauma among U.S. young adults. Using Add Health Wave III, which coincidently overlapped with the September 11 attacks, and a depression mean and variance polygenic scores, we investigate how the polygenic scores moderate the causal effect of 9/11 on mental health. Our results show the presence of genetic heterogeneity, where those with high genetic plasticity experience an increase in depressive symptoms following trauma while those with low genetic plasticity do not. While the documented differences in reactions to trauma are important, we also note our ability to predict responses based only on genetic measures are too imprecise to identify susceptible clinical patients. We, therefore, contend that the expected benefits from genetic screening to identify susceptible individuals after trauma are limited. Our results provide novel evidence of a specific source of an additional heterogeneity contributing to the inequality of health following trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiro Furuya
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Sociology, USA
| | - Jason M. Fletcher
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Sociology, USA
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, La Follette School of Public Affairs, USA
| | - Zijie Zhao
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, USA
| | - Zhongxuan Sun
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, USA
| | - Qiongshi Lu
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, USA
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Hochard J, Li Y, Abashidze N. Associations of hurricane exposure and forecasting with impaired birth outcomes. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6746. [PMID: 36347839 PMCID: PMC9643368 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33865-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Early forecasts give people in a storm's path time to prepare. Less is known about the cost to society when forecasts are incorrect. In this observational study, we examine over 700,000 births in the path of Hurricane Irene and find exposure was associated with impaired birth outcomes. Additional warning time was associated with decreased preterm birth rates for women who experienced intense storm exposures documenting a benefit of avoiding a type II forecasting error. A larger share of this at-risk population experienced a type I forecasting error where severe physical storm impacts were anticipated but not experienced. Disaster anticipation disrupted healthcare services by delaying and canceling prenatal care, which may contribute to storm-impacted birth outcomes. Recognizing storm damages depend on human responses to predicted storm paths is critical to supporting the next generation's developmental potential with judicious forecasts that ensure public warning systems mitigate rather than exacerbate climate damages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Hochard
- grid.135963.b0000 0001 2109 0381Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Bim Kendall House, 804 E Fremont Street, Laramie, WY 82072 USA
| | - Yuanhao Li
- SNF – Centre for Applied Research at NHH, Helleveien 30, N-5045, Bergen, Norway
| | - Nino Abashidze
- grid.135963.b0000 0001 2109 0381Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Bim Kendall House, 804 E Fremont Street, Laramie, WY 82072 USA
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Avidor S, Palgi Y, Solomon Z. The experience of aging before one's time during the coronavirus pandemic among war veterans in Israel. Psychiatry Res 2022; 316:114786. [PMID: 35994865 PMCID: PMC9364942 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Subjective age, the personal sense of how old one feels, is an important concomitant of posttraumatic outcomes in the second half of life. The present study aims to disentangle the interrelationships between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) and subjective age, during the COVID-19 pandemic, among a sample of Israeli older adults who are veterans of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Participants were interviewed in 2015 (T1; N = 259; mean age = 65.23, SD = 5.32) and in 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak in Israel (T2). We assessed subjective age, PTSS, fear of COVID-19, self-rated health, and COVID-19 related accelerated subjective aging. A cross-lagged path analysis showed that while higher PTSS at T1 were associated with an increase in subjective age from T1 to T2, subjective age at T1 was not associated with PTSS at T2. PTSS at T1, but not subjective age, were associated with higher COVID-19 related accelerated subjective aging at T2. Older adults with continued PTSS due to past traumas, might be susceptible to the stressors of COVID-19 expressed in the personal subjective experience of having aged quickly in a short period of time. Our findings also suggest that in the context of stress and trauma, subjective age is more appropriately conceived as an outcome variable rather than a predictor of PTSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Avidor
- Faculty of Social and Community Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer 402500, Israel.
| | - Yuval Palgi
- Department of Gerontology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Zahava Solomon
- I-Core Research Center for Mass Trauma, The Bob Shappell School of Social Work, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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Pe’er A, Slone M. Media Exposure to Armed Conflict: Dispositional Optimism and Self-Mastery Moderate Distress and Post-Traumatic Symptoms among Adolescents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191811216. [PMID: 36141487 PMCID: PMC9517387 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rapid technological developments enable the immediate transmission of armed conflict events through a variety of media channels, inducing mass anxiety, fear, and helplessness. Youth are particularly vulnerable and face new challenges as a result of this exposure. The effects of media exposure to such events on psychological distress and post-traumatic symptoms were examined. METHODS A total of 161 participants aged 13-18 years completed a questionnaire battery that included measures of media exposure to armed conflict events, previous direct exposure to armed conflict events, psychological distress, post-traumatic symptoms, dispositional optimism, and self-mastery. A structural equation model (SEM) approach was employed for data analysis. RESULTS The extent of media exposure to armed conflict was directly associated with psychological distress and post-traumatic symptoms. Dispositional optimism moderated the association between media exposure and psychological distress, while self-mastery moderated the association between media exposure and post-traumatic symptoms. The effects of the Internet factor of media exposure, which included social media, were particularly disturbing as neither of the resilience factors moderated negative outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that clinical interventions to enhance dispositional optimism and self-mastery as well as other potential resilience factors can protect adolescents from the severe effects of media exposure to violent armed conflict events. Developmental and public health implications related to vulnerabilities and resilience during adolescence are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayelet Pe’er
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +972-548800184
| | - Michelle Slone
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya 4610101, Israel
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12
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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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13
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Alleaume C, Peretti-Watel P, Beck F, Leger D, Vaiva G, Verger P. Incidence of PTSD in the French population a month after the COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown: evidence from a national longitudinal survey. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1500. [PMID: 35932014 PMCID: PMC9356417 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13880-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In view of experts' warnings about the potential negative mental health consequences of the sudden nationwide lockdowns implemented in many countries to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, we sought to study the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after traumatic events related to this unprecedented lockdown in the French general population. METHODS This longitudinal study among adults (aged =18) consisted of two surveys: the first during the last days of the lockdown and the second a month later. We estimated PTSD incidence with the PCL-5 and ran multiple Poisson regression models to identify factors associated with PTSD. RESULTS Among the 1736 participants, 30.1% reported at least one traumatic event. PTSD incidence was 17.5% (95% confidence interval CI = 15.7-19.3). It was higher in participants who reported multiple traumatic events, who had high COVID-19-related media use, who had general anxiety disorder (GAD-7) during the lockdown, and who had GAD, depression (PHQ-9), or sleep problems 1 month later. In addition, 43.1% of people with PTSD reported suicidal thoughts. CONCLUSIONS These results should help clinicians to target people who are at high risk of developing PTSD after a pandemic-related lockdown and could benefit from preventive measures. Collaboration between the media and mental health professionals could be envisioned to inform the population about care resources. Follow-up recommendations should also be disseminated to general practitioners to facilitate PTSD screening and ensure that they are aware of the appropriate management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Alleaume
- Southeastern Health Regional Observatory (ORS Paca), Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, 27 Bd Jean Moulin 13385, CEDEX 5, Marseille, France.
| | - Patrick Peretti-Watel
- Southeastern Health Regional Observatory (ORS Paca), Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, 27 Bd Jean Moulin 13385, CEDEX 5, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
| | - François Beck
- CESP, University Paris Sud, Faculté de médecine UVSQ, Inserm, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Damien Leger
- Université de Paris, EA 7330 VIFASOM (Vigilance Fatigue Sommeil et Santé Publique), Paris, France.,APHP- Hôtel-Dieu, Centre du sommeil et de la Vigilance, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Vaiva
- U1172 INSERM Lille Neurosciences & Cognitions, Centre National de Ressources & Résilience pour les psychotraumatismes (Lille - Paris), Lille, France
| | - Pierre Verger
- Southeastern Health Regional Observatory (ORS Paca), Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, 27 Bd Jean Moulin 13385, CEDEX 5, Marseille, France
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14
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Liu T, Zhang S, Zhang H. Exposure to COVID-19-related media content and mental health during the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in China. Scand J Psychol 2022; 63:283-289. [PMID: 35279827 PMCID: PMC9115400 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to disaster-related media content is closely related to mental health. This study aimed to explore the patterns of COVID-19-related media exposure and examine whether these patterns were associated with mental health. In total, 917 participants in this study completed the Media Exposure Questionnaire (MEQ), the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Then latent class analysis and discriminant analysis were conducted to identify the patterns of media exposure. Finally, we tested how mental health was associated with such patterns. Four subtypes of media exposure were identified: the slightly exposed group, the lower-moderately exposed group, the higher-moderately exposed group, and the heavily exposed group. And there were significant differences in individuals' levels of positive and negative affect among different subtypes, but no difference in depression, anxiety, and stress. The results of the current study indicated that more COVID-19-related media exposure was related to increased positive and negative affect. And the current findings would help people to better understand the relationships between media exposure and mental health during a pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tour Liu
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and BehaviorTianjin Normal UniversityTianjinChina
- Faculty of PsychologyTianjin Normal UniversityTianjinChina
- Tianjin Social Science Laboratory of Students' Mental Development and LearningTianjinChina
| | - Shu Zhang
- Faculty of PsychologyTianjin Normal UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Huan Zhang
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and BehaviorTianjin Normal UniversityTianjinChina
- Faculty of PsychologyTianjin Normal UniversityTianjinChina
- Tianjin Social Science Laboratory of Students' Mental Development and LearningTianjinChina
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15
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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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16
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Grygarová D, Adámek P, Juríčková V, Horáček J, Bakštein E, Fajnerová I, Kesner L. Impact of a Long Lockdown on Mental Health and the Role of Media Use: Web-Based Survey Study. JMIR Ment Health 2022; 9:e36050. [PMID: 35605112 PMCID: PMC9277533 DOI: 10.2196/36050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Czech population experienced a second lockdown lasting for about half a year, restricting free movement and imposing social isolation. However, it is not known whether the impact of this long lockdown resulted in habituation to the adverse situation or in the traumatization of the Czech population, and whether the media and specific media use contributed to these effects. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of the long lockdown on the mental health of the Czech population, and the role of exposure to COVID-19 news reports and specific forms of media news use in mental health. METHODS We conducted two consecutive surveys in the early (November 2020) and late (March/April 2021) phases of the nationwide lockdown on the same nationally representative group of Czech adults (N=1777) participating in a longitudinal panel study. RESULTS Our findings showed that the self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression increased in the second observation period, confirming the negative effect of the pandemic lockdown as it unfolded, suggesting that restrictive measures and continuous exposure to a collective stressor did not result in the strengthening of resilience but rather in ongoing traumatization. The results also suggest a negative role of the media's coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic in mental health during the early, and particularly late, phases of the lockdown. Furthermore, we found several risk and protective factors of specific media news use. The media practice in news consumption connected to social media use was the strongest predictor of exacerbated mental health symptoms, particularly in the late phase of the lockdown. Moreover, news media use characterized by internalization of information learned from the news, as well as negative attitudes toward media news, were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. Conversely, the use of infotainment, together with an in-depth and contextual style of reading news articles, were related to improvement of mental health. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that the long lockdown resulted in traumatization rather than habituation, and in more pronounced effects (both negative and positive) of media use in mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Grygarová
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Adámek
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Juríčková
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Horáček
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eduard Bakštein
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.,Early Stages of Severe Mental Illness Research Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Iveta Fajnerová
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.,Virtual Reality in Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Ladislav Kesner
- Center for Advanced Studies of Brain and Consciousness, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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17
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Rivest-Beauregard M, Fortin J, Guo C, Cipolletta S, Sapkota RP, Lonergan M, Brunet A. Media Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Study. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e33011. [PMID: 3553703 PMCID: PMC9177167 DOI: 10.2196/33011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Throughout the pandemic, the general population was encouraged to use media to be kept informed about sanitary measures while staying connected with others to obtain social support. However, due to mixed findings in the literature, it is not clear whether media use in such a context would be pathogenic or salutogenic. OBJECTIVE Therefore, the associations between COVID-19-related stressors and frequency of media use for information-seeking on trauma- and stressor-related (TSR) symptoms were examined while also investigating how social media use for support-seeking and peritraumatic distress interact with those variables. METHODS A path model was tested in a sample of 5913 adults who completed an online survey. RESULTS The number of COVID-19-related stressors (β=.25; P<.001) and extent of information-seeking through media (β=.24; P=.006) were significantly associated with the severity of TSR symptoms in bivariate comparisons. Associations between levels of peritraumatic distress and both COVID-19-related stressors and information-seeking through media, and social media use for support- and information-seeking through media were found (βCOVID-19 stressors: Peritraumatic Distress Inventory=.49, P<.001; βseeking information: Peritraumatic Distress Inventory=.70, P<.001; βseeking information-seeking support=.04, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that exposure to COVID-19-related stressors and seeking COVID-19-related information through the media are associated with higher levels of peritraumatic distress that, in turn, lead to higher levels of TSR symptoms. Although exposure to the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic may be unavoidable, the frequency of COVID-19-related information consumption through various media should be approached with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolaine Rivest-Beauregard
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Division of Psychosocial Research, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Justine Fortin
- Division of Psychosocial Research, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Québec in Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Connie Guo
- Division of Psychosocial Research, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Ram P Sapkota
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Michelle Lonergan
- Division of Psychosocial Research, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, QC, Canada.,School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Alain Brunet
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Division of Psychosocial Research, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, QC, Canada
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18
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Al Jowf GI, Ahmed ZT, An N, Reijnders RA, Ambrosino E, Rutten BPF, de Nijs L, Eijssen LMT. A Public Health Perspective of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:6474. [PMID: 35682057 PMCID: PMC9180718 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Trauma exposure is one of the most important and prevalent risk factors for mental and physical ill-health. Prolonged or excessive stress exposure increases the risk of a wide variety of mental and physical symptoms, resulting in a condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The diagnosis might be challenging due to the complex pathophysiology and co-existence with other mental disorders. The prime factor for PTSD development is exposure to a stressor, which variably, along with peritraumatic conditions, affects disease progression and severity. Additionally, many factors are thought to influence the response to the stressor, and hence reshape the natural history and course of the disease. With sufficient knowledge about the disease, preventive and intervenient methods can be implemented to improve the quality of life of the patients and to limit both the medical and economic burden of the disease. This literature review provides a highlight of up-to-date literature on traumatic stress, with a focus on causes or triggers of stress, factors that influence response to stress, disease burden, and the application of the social-ecological public health model of disease prevention. In addition, it addresses therapeutic aspects, ethnic differences in traumatic stress, and future perspectives, including potential biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazi I. Al Jowf
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (N.A.); (R.A.R.); (B.P.F.R.); (L.d.N.)
- Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Ziyad T. Ahmed
- College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Al-Bukairyah 52726, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ning An
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (N.A.); (R.A.R.); (B.P.F.R.); (L.d.N.)
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Rick A. Reijnders
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (N.A.); (R.A.R.); (B.P.F.R.); (L.d.N.)
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Elena Ambrosino
- Institute for Public Health Genomics, Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Research School GROW (School for Oncology and Reproduction), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands;
| | - Bart P. F. Rutten
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (N.A.); (R.A.R.); (B.P.F.R.); (L.d.N.)
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Laurence de Nijs
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (N.A.); (R.A.R.); (B.P.F.R.); (L.d.N.)
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Lars M. T. Eijssen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (N.A.); (R.A.R.); (B.P.F.R.); (L.d.N.)
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Bioinformatics—BiGCaT, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
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19
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Blasco S, Moreno-Galbis E, Tanguy J. Getting used to terrorist threats? Evidence from French terrorist attacks between 2015 and 2016. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2022; 31:508-540. [PMID: 34970818 DOI: 10.1002/hec.4465] [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: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper evaluates the effect on mental health of consecutive terrorist attacks in France in 2015 and 2016. We compile information about the three main terrorist attacks that struck France over this period and assess whether the potential effect on mental health (i.e., depression) of a terrorist attack is smoothed once people consider terrorist attacks as "the new normality." We exploit data from the French Constances epidemiological survey and combine an event study strategy with a difference-in-difference approach to compare before-after changes in mental health the year of the attack with the same changes the year before. We show that the negative effect of a terrorist attack on mental health decreases over time from one attack to another, and disappears completely for the last attack. Socio-demographic composition of the sample, geographical or socio-demographic proximity to the victims or media exposure do not arise as factors responsible for this changing effect of terrorist attacks on mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Blasco
- Le Mans University, GAINS-TEPP, IRA, IZA, Le Mans, France
| | - Eva Moreno-Galbis
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, EHESS, Centrale Marseille, AMSE, Marseille, France
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20
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Cyr G, Godbout N, Cloitre M, Bélanger C. Distinguishing Among Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Borderline Personality Disorder in a Community Sample of Women. J Trauma Stress 2022; 35:186-196. [PMID: 34374135 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The diagnosis of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) was included in the ICD-11 in 2018. Debates are still ongoing in the scientific community regarding the conceptual distinction between CPTSD symptoms and those of comorbid PTSD and borderline personality disorder (BPD). The present study aimed to determine whether (a) patterns of symptoms reported by women in a community sample would reveal a CPTSD profile distinct from PTSD and BPD profiles and (b) the resulting profiles could be compared on measures of cumulative childhood trauma exposure, dissociation, and life satisfaction. Women who reported at least one potentially traumatic experience (N = 438) completed questionnaires assessing PTSD, CPTSD, and BPD symptoms. We performed latent profile analyses testing seven models, with the five-profile model emerging as the most appropriate solution. The profiles were characterized as "high PTSD symptoms" (12.0%), "high CPTSD symptoms" (7.6%), "high BPD symptoms" (9.9%), "high CPTSD and BPD symptoms" (3.8%), and "low symptoms" (66.7%). Group comparisons revealed that the profiles characterized by high CPTSD symptoms, high BPD symptoms, and high CPTSD and BPD symptoms tended to include participants with higher levels of cumulative childhood trauma exposure and symptoms of dissociation and lower ratings of life satisfaction compared to the profiles characterized by high PTSD symptoms and low symptoms, ds = 0.55-1.06. These findings support the distinction between ICD-11 CPTSD symptoms and those of PTSD and BPD, promoting an integrative approach to understanding trauma sequelae, diagnosis, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaëlle Cyr
- Department of Psychology, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Natacha Godbout
- Department of Sexology, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Marylene Cloitre
- Dissemination and Training Division, National Center for PTSD, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - Claude Bélanger
- Department of Psychology, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, Canada
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21
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Media Contact and Posttraumatic Stress in Employees of New York City Area Businesses after the September 11 Attacks. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2022; 16:163-169. [DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2020.227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACTObjective:The objective of this study was to examine associations between media contact and posttraumatic stress in a sample with a large number of individuals who were directly exposed to the September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks and to compare outcomes in exposed and unexposed participants.Methods:Structured interviews and questionnaires were administered to a volunteer sample of 254 employees of New York City businesses 35 months after the attacks to document disaster trauma exposures, posttraumatic stress outcomes, and media contact and reactions.Results:Media variables were not associated with psychopathological outcomes in exposed participants, but media contact in the first week after the attacks and feeling moderately/extremely bothered by graphic 9/11 media images were associated with re-experiencing symptoms in both the exposed and unexposed participants. Feeling moderately/extremely bothered by graphic media images was associated with hyperarousal symptoms in exposed participants.Conclusions:The findings suggest that media contact did not lead to psychopathology in exposed individuals, although it was associated with normative distress in both exposure groups. Because of the potential for adverse effects associated with media contact, clinicians and public health professionals are encouraged to discuss concerns about mass trauma media contact with their patients and the public at large.
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22
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Zhang S, Liu T, Liu X, Chao M. Network Analysis of Media Exposure and Psychological Outcomes During the Initial Outbreak of COVID-19 in China. Int J Ment Health Addict 2022; 21:1-13. [PMID: 35095352 PMCID: PMC8783777 DOI: 10.1007/s11469-021-00738-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
During the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in China, people spent a lot of time viewing or listening to COVID-19-related media content. And according to the conservation of resources theory, COVID-19-related media exposure would be related to multiple psychological outcomes, and different contents would have different associations with different psychological outcomes. Therefore, the present study aimed to clarify these relationships and find out the most important psychological outcome correlated with COVID-19-related media exposure. An online survey was conducted to collect information about individuals' media use behaviors and mental health status. A total of 917 participants were included in further analyses. The results proved that different kinds of content had different relationships with different psychological outcomes. To be more specific, the content about people being heroic and speeches from experts and the authorities were related to increases of positive affect, while reports from hospitals were correlated with increases of death anxiety. Moreover, positive affect was central nodes of the network. The current findings indicated viewing objective and positive content was associated with positive psychological outcomes while viewing negative one was correlated with negative psychological outcomes. Furthermore, positive affect was the most important psychological outcome related to COVID-19-related media exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062 China
| | - Tour Liu
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300387 China
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300387 China
- Tianjin Social Science Laboratory of Students’ Mental Development and Learning, Tianjin, 300387 China
| | - Xiaorui Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300387 China
| | - Miao Chao
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300387 China
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300387 China
- Tianjin Social Science Laboratory of Students’ Mental Development and Learning, Tianjin, 300387 China
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23
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The Relationship among COVID-19 Information Seeking, News Media Use, and Emotional Distress at the Onset of the Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182413198. [PMID: 34948806 PMCID: PMC8701074 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Although several theories posit that information seeking is related to better psychological health, this logic may not apply to a pandemic like COVID-19. Given uncertainty inherent to the novel virus, we expect that information seeking about COVID-19 will be positively associated with emotional distress. Additionally, we consider the type of news media from which individuals receive information—television, newspapers, and social media—when examining relationships with emotional distress. Using a U.S. national survey, we examine: (1) the link between information seeking about COVID-19 and emotional distress, (2) the relationship between reliance on television, newspapers, and social media as sources for news and emotional distress, and (3) the interaction between information seeking and use of these news media sources on emotional distress. Our findings show that seeking information about COVID-19 was significantly related to emotional distress. Moreover, even after accounting for COVID-19 information seeking, consuming news via television and social media was tied to increased distress, whereas consuming newspapers was not significantly related to greater distress. Emotional distress was most pronounced among individuals high in information seeking and television news use, whereas the association between information seeking and emotional distress was not moderated by newspapers or social media news use.
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24
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Žemaitienė N, Kukulskienė M, Miglinė V, Kubilienė L, Urbonaitė G, Digrytė-Šertvytienė L, Norė A, Šmigelskas K. Psychological Aspects of Media Communication during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from Healthcare and Pharmacy Specialists in Lithuania. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:healthcare9101297. [PMID: 34682977 PMCID: PMC8544581 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9101297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the setting of disasters, people seek information as they hope that knowledge will provide security. This makes the media a critical source of crisis exposure. The aim of the study described in this article was to analyze COVID-19 pandemic-related psychological aspects of media use by healthcare and pharmacy workers in Lithuania and to reveal the subjective effects of media consumption on their psychological well-being. 967 healthcare workers and pharmacists in Lithuania completed an electronic survey, which consisted of questions about the changes in well-being experienced since the beginning of the lockdown and media use in the search for information on COVID-19. It was found that communication might have ambiguous effects on psychological well-being. Excessive, unreliable, misleading, contradictory information and “catastrophizing” were subjectively related to impaired psychological well-being. Objective and reliable, relevant, clear, timely, hopeful and supportive information had a subjective positive effect. Seeking COVID-19-related information many times a day was associated with increased fear of becoming infected with COVID-19, feeling unable to control the risk of contracting COVID-19, fear of infecting relatives with COVID-19 and feeling that other people would avoid interaction with healthcare workers and pharmacists because of their job. General browsing was not consistently associated with COVID-19-related fears.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nida Žemaitienė
- Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania; (N.Ž.); (G.U.); (L.D.-Š.); (A.N.); (K.Š.)
| | - Milda Kukulskienė
- Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania; (N.Ž.); (G.U.); (L.D.-Š.); (A.N.); (K.Š.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +370-67435266
| | - Vilma Miglinė
- Community Well-Being Center, Mykolas Romeris University, 08303 Vilnius, Lithuania;
| | - Loreta Kubilienė
- Department of Drug Technology and Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania;
| | - Gabrielė Urbonaitė
- Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania; (N.Ž.); (G.U.); (L.D.-Š.); (A.N.); (K.Š.)
| | - Laura Digrytė-Šertvytienė
- Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania; (N.Ž.); (G.U.); (L.D.-Š.); (A.N.); (K.Š.)
| | - Aušra Norė
- Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania; (N.Ž.); (G.U.); (L.D.-Š.); (A.N.); (K.Š.)
| | - Kastytis Šmigelskas
- Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania; (N.Ž.); (G.U.); (L.D.-Š.); (A.N.); (K.Š.)
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25
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Filkuková P, Ayton P, Rand K, Langguth J. What Should I Trust? Individual Differences in Attitudes to Conflicting Information and Misinformation on COVID-19. Front Psychol 2021; 12:588478. [PMID: 34248728 PMCID: PMC8262492 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.588478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic constitutes a novel threat and traditional and new media provide people with an abundance of information and misinformation on the topic. In the current study, we investigated who tends to trust what type of mis/information. The data were collected in Norway from a sample of 405 participants during the first wave of COVID-19 in April 2020. We focused on three kinds of belief: the belief that the threat is overrated (COVID-threat skepticism), the belief that the threat is underrated (COVID-threat belief) and belief in misinformation about COVID-19. We studied sociodemographic factors associated with these beliefs and the interplay between attitudes to COVID-19, media consumption and prevention behavior. All three types of belief were associated with distrust in information about COVID-19 provided by traditional media and distrust in the authorities' approach to the pandemic. COVID-threat skepticism was associated with male gender, reduced news consumption since the start of the pandemic and lower levels of precautionary measures. Belief that the COVID-19 threat is underrated was associated with younger age, left-wing political orientation, increased news consumption during the pandemic and increased precautionary behavior. Consistent with the assumptions of the theory of planned behavior, individual beliefs about the seriousness of the COVID-19 threat predicted the extent to which individual participants adopted precautionary health measures. Both COVID-threat skepticism and COVID-threat belief were associated with endorsement of misinformation on COVID-19. Participants who endorsed misinformation tended to: have lower levels of education; be male; show decreased news consumption; have high Internet use and high trust in information provided by social media. Additionally, they tended to endorse multiple misinformation stories simultaneously, even when they were mutually contradictory. The strongest predictor for low compliance with precautionary measures was endorsement of a belief that the COVID-19 threat is overrated which at the time of the data collection was held also by some experts and featured in traditional media. The findings stress the importance of consistency of communication in situations of a public health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Ayton
- Centre for Decision Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Kim Rand
- Health Services Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Akershus, Norway
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Media Exposure and Substance Use Increase during COVID-19. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18126318. [PMID: 34207964 PMCID: PMC8296128 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: Lockdown measures because of COVID-19 are likely to result in deteriorating physical and mental health. In this study, our aim was to assess the impact of media exposure on increases in substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A nationally representative online survey of 1264 adults was collected during the pandemic in the United States. Logistic regression was used to explore the association between an increase in substance use since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and exposure to cable news or social media together with COVID-19 knowledge, while controlling for covariates. Results: In the multivariable-adjusted models, participants with the highest exposure to social media (at least daily) and low knowledge of COVID-19 were 9.9 times more likely to experience an increase in substance use since the pandemic began (OR = 9.90, 95% CI = 4.27–23.06). Participants with the highest exposure to cable news and low knowledge of COVID-19 were over 11 times more likely to experience an increase in substance use (OR = 11.64, 95% CI = 4.01–24.45). Conclusion: Based on our findings, we recommend that media organizations should aim to reduce uncertainty and also provide positive coverage to counter the negative information associated with pandemics.
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Terrorism in the country of origin is linked to deterioration in the mental health of refugees. Nat Hum Behav 2021; 5:1555-1561. [PMID: 34017095 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-021-01123-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Refugees flee their country of origin to escape threats to their existence. Yet, despite having left behind the immediate physical dangers in their country of origin, refugees may continue to experience negative psychological consequences of contemporary violence in that country because of their connection to it. Here, using longitudinal population data from Denmark, we show that refugees were substantially more likely to use antidepressants, and anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs in periods when their country of origin was more intensely afflicted by terrorism. The finding that contemporary terrorism in the home country is negatively associated with the mental health of refugees highlights the potential vulnerability of such groups and points to the need to identify the extended global consequences of terrorism.
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Luo Y, He X, Wang S, Li J, Zhang Y. Media exposure predicts acute stress and probable acute stress disorder during the early COVID-19 outbreak in China. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11407. [PMID: 34026362 PMCID: PMC8117928 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 has led to unprecedented psychological stress on the general public. However, the associations between media exposure to COVID-19 and acute stress responses have not been explored during the early COVID-19 outbreak in China. Methods An online survey was conducted to investigate the relationships between media exposure to COVID-19 and acute stress responses, and to recognize associated predictors of acute stress responses on a sample of 1,450 Chinese citizens from February 3 to February 10, 2020. Media exposure questionnaire related to COVID-19 was developed to assess media exposure time, media exposure forms and media exposure content. The Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire (SASRQ) was used to measure acute stress responses, including continuous acute stress symptom scores and the risk of probable acute stress disorder (ASD). A series of regression analyses were conducted. Results Longer media exposure time and social media use were associated with higher acute stress and probable ASD. Viewing the situation of infected patients was associated with higher acute stress, whereas viewing the latest news about pandemic data was associated with lower odds of probable ASD. Being females, living in Hubei Province, someone close to them diagnosed with COVID-19, history of mental illness, recent adverse life events and previous collective trauma exposure were risk factors for acute stress responses. Conclusions These findings confirmed the associations between indirect media exposure to pandemic events and acute stress responses. The governments should be aware of the negative impacts of disaster-related media exposure and implement appropriate interventions to promote psychological well-being following pandemic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Luo
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Xiangcai He
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.,Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shaofeng Wang
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Jinjin Li
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
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29
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Vodonos A, Novack V, Waismel-Manor I, Ezra Y, Guetta A, Ifergane G. Sick of news? Television news exposure, collective stressful events and headache related emergency department visits. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249749. [PMID: 33831069 PMCID: PMC8031395 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress is a well-known trigger for primary headache yet its impact is difficult to demonstrate in large epidemiological studies. Israeli national TV news is often referred to as the “tribal fire”, as many Israelis watch national news coverage following terror attacks or military operations. We examined the association between exposure to television news and their content with headache related Emergency Department visits. This retrospective cohort study included data on daily Emergency Department visits with a chief complaint of headache in Soroka University Medical Center, during 2002–2012. Data on daily television news viewership ratings were obtained from the Israeli Audience Research Board and its content from Channel 2 headlines, the highest rated TV news program. To estimate the short-term effects of news rating during the evening news on the number of daily headache visits, we applied generalized linear mixed models. 16,693 Emergency Department visits were included in the analysis. An increase in five units of daily rating percentages was associated with increase in Emergency Department visits the following day, relative risk (RR) = 1.032, (95% CI 1.014–1.050). This association increased with the age of the patients; RR = 1.119, (95% CI 1.075–1.65) for older than 60-year-old, RR = 1.044 (95% CI 1.010–1.078) for ages 40–60 and RR = 1.000 (95% CI 0.977–1.023) for younger than 40-year-old. We did not find a specific content associated with ED visit for headache. Higher television news ratings were associated with increased incidence of Emergency Department headache related visits. We assume that especially among older persons, news viewership ratings provide an indirect estimate of collective stress, which acts as a headache trigger for susceptible subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Vodonos
- Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Victor Novack
- Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | | | - Yacov Ezra
- Neurology Department, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Adi Guetta
- Neurology Department, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Gal Ifergane
- Neurology Department, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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Pfefferbaum B, Palka JM, North CS. Associations between News Media Coverage of the 11 September Attacks and Depression in Employees of New York City Area Businesses. Behav Sci (Basel) 2021; 11:29. [PMID: 33673572 PMCID: PMC7997192 DOI: 10.3390/bs11030029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Research has examined the association between contact with media coverage of mass trauma events and various psychological outcomes, including depression. Disaster-related depression research is complicated by the relatively high prevalence of the major depressive disorder in general populations even without trauma exposure. The extant research is inconclusive regarding associations between disaster media contact and depression outcomes, in part, because most studies have not distinguished diagnostic and symptomatic outcomes, differentiated postdisaster incidence from prevalence, or considered disaster trauma exposures. This study examined these associations in a volunteer sample of 254 employees of New York City businesses after the 11 September 2001, terrorist attacks. Structured interviews and questionnaires were administered 35 months after the attacks. Poisson and logistic regression analyses revealed that post-9/11 news contact significantly predicted the number of postdisaster persistent/recurrent and incident depressive symptoms in the full sample and in the indirect and unexposed groups. The findings suggest that clinical and public health approaches should be particularly alert to potential adverse postdisaster depression outcomes related to media consumption in disaster trauma-unexposed or indirectly-exposed groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty Pfefferbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, P.O. Box 26901, WP3217, Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0901, USA
| | - Jayme M. Palka
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6363 Forest Park Road, BL316, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA;
| | - Carol S. North
- Metrocare Services, 1250 Mockingbird Lane, Suite 330, Dallas, TX 75247-4914, USA;
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Suite NE5.102, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA
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Development and Evaluation of a Screening Scale for Indirect Trauma Caused by Media Exposure to Social Disasters. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18020698. [PMID: 33467475 PMCID: PMC7830079 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18020698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
As a result of mass media development, disaster-related information, such as the severity of damage, can be easily shared; thus, the issue of consequent indirect trauma has become as important as that of direct trauma. This study developed a scale to measure the degree of indirect trauma caused by media exposure to social disasters and then verified this scale’s reliability and validity. Initial items were developed through a literature review; 39 items were selected by examining their content validity and conducting a pretest. To verify the scale’s validity and reliability, exploratory factor analyses were conducted, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were calculated. The explanatory power of the screening scale developed through this study was 62.2%. The scale was ultimately composed of three factors comprising 24 items. Through exploratory factor analyses, factors were identified as “psychological, physical, and behavioral responses to social disasters” (factor 1), “moral resentment due to social disasters” (factor 2), and “a sense of threat to life due to social disasters” (factor 3). Regarding internal reliability, Cronbach’s alpha values ranged between 0.85 and 0.96. Future studies with expanded participant populations are suggested, which could further verify the scale’s validity and reliability and complement its shortcomings.
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Rackham LA, Lau-Zhu A. Taxing working memory to modulate mental imagery of the 9/11 terrorist attacks following media exposure during childhood: a pilot study in young adult UK residents. ANXIETY STRESS AND COPING 2021; 34:423-436. [PMID: 33412932 DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2020.1870107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Media trauma in civilians is linked to intrusive imagery-based memory symptoms. We investigated whether mental imagery of the 9/11 terrorist attacks following media exposure is dampened by taxing working memory (WM). METHODS Forty-five young adult UK residents, who were exposed to the 9/11 terrorist attacks as children via the media, identified a personally-relevant mental image of the attacks. They were then randomly allocated to: (1) recall + Tetris, (2) recall + eye movements (EMs), or (3) recall-only. Ratings on imagery vividness and emotionality were provided at three time points: pre-, post-manipulations, and at 24-hr follow-up. RESULTS Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed that recall + Tetris and recall + EMs (relative to recall-only) significantly reduced imagery vividness and emotionality from pre- to post-manipulations, but not to follow-up. LIMITATIONS A passive control group is needed to fully rule out the role of natural memory decay; the follow-up was exploratory and took place outside the laboratory with reduced experimental control. CONCLUSIONS Aversive memory imagery from media trauma in civilians can be dampened by taxing WM, at least temporarily, which could be therapeutically useful. The use of such cognitive techniques may also hold relevance for public health approaches to address the impact of collective trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libby A Rackham
- School of Psychology, Cognitive Institute, Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK
| | - Alex Lau-Zhu
- Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Training and Research, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Psychiatry, Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Pfefferbaum B, Nitiéma P, Newman E. The association of mass trauma media contact with depression and anxiety: A meta-analytic review. JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2020.100063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
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Robert M, Stene LE, Garfin DR, Vandentorren S, Motreff Y, du Roscoat E, Pirard P. Media Exposure and Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms in the Wake of the November 2015 Paris Terrorist Attacks: A Population-Based Study in France. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:509457. [PMID: 34093248 PMCID: PMC8175798 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.509457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The intense mass media coverage of the Paris terrorist attacks on November 13, 2015 exposed a majority of the French population to the attacks. Prior research has documented the association between media exposure to terrorism and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The present study replicated and extended these findings in a French sample. A population-based sample (N = 1,760) was drawn from a national web-enabled panel in June 2016. Hours of attack-related media exposure (i.e., TV-watching, viewing internet images, engaging in social media exchanges) in the 3 days following the attacks were assessed. Multivariate regression models, adjusting for gender, age, direct exposure (i.e., witnessing in person or knowing someone injured or killed), residential area, social support, pre-attack mental health service utilization, and other adverse life events, examined the association between media exposure and PTSS (assessed using the self-report PCL-5). Compared to those reporting less than 2 hours of daily attack-related television exposure, those reporting 2-4 hours (β = 3.1, 95% CI = 0.8-5.3) or >4 hours (β = 4.7, 95% CI = 2.0-7.4) of media exposure reported higher attack-related PTSS. This finding was replicated with social media use: those with moderate (β = 3.2, 95% CI = 0.9-5.5) or high (β = 6.8, 95% CI = 1.9-11.7) use reported higher PTSS than those reporting no use. Subanalyses demonstrated that media exposure and PTSS were not associated in those directly exposed to the attacks. Results highlight the potential public health risk of extensive mass media exposure to traumatic events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lise Eilin Stene
- Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dana Rose Garfin
- Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Enguerrand du Roscoat
- Santé publique France, Saint Maurice, France.,Laboratoire Parisien de Psychologie Sociale, EA 4386, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre-La Défense, Nanterre, France
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Neria Y. Addressing Immediate and Mid-Term Needs of Trauma Exposed Individuals: The Race to Prevent Chronic Psychopathology. Psychiatry 2021; 84:410-414. [PMID: 35061966 DOI: 10.1080/00332747.2021.2005445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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36
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LENHARDT G, ANDRETTA I. The influence of sociodemographic variables in the triggering of emotional symptoms after an air disaster. ESTUDOS DE PSICOLOGIA (CAMPINAS) 2021. [DOI: 10.1590/1982-0275202138e190154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract The study aimed to identify the predictive relationship of sociodemographic variables and emotional symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and stress. A sample of 194 people who experienced an air disaster, average age of 32 years, participated in the survey. The instruments used were: Sociodemographic Data Questionnaire, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – Civilian Version, and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. A multiple regression analysis indicated that women participants were associated with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and those directly exposed to the disaster had higher odds ratios to develop post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and stress symptoms. It is expected, with this information, to identify early the people who may be most vulnerable and contribute to the elaboration of intervention protocols.
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37
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Abdalla SM, Cohen GH, Tamrakar S, Koya SF, Galea S. Media Exposure and the Risk of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Following a Mass traumatic Event: An In-silico Experiment. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:674263. [PMID: 34899406 PMCID: PMC8656276 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.674263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Following mass traumatic events, greater exposure to traditional media like television (TV) about the event is associated with higher burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, we know little about how social media exposure, combined with other media sources, shapes the population burden of PTSD following mass traumatic events. Materials and Methods: We built a microsimulation of 1,18,000 agents that was demographically comparable to the population of Parkland and Coral Springs, Florida that experienced the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018. We parametrized the model using data from prior traumatic events and built an internal social network structure to facilitate the estimation of community PTSD prevalence following exposure to TV and social media coverage of the shooting. Results: Overall, PTSD prevalence in the community due to exposure to TV coverage of the shooting was 3.1%. Shifting the whole population's hours of TV watching to the lower half of the population distribution decreased PTSD prevalence to 1.3% while increasing TV watching to the upper half of the distribution increased the prevalence to 3.5%. Casual (i.e., viewing posts) social media use in addition to exposure to TV coverage increased PTSD prevalence to 3.4%; overall prevalence increased to 5.3% when agents shared videos related to the shooting on social media. Conclusion: This microsimulation shows that availability and exposure to media coverage of mass traumatic events, particularly as social media becomes more ubiquitous, has the potential to increase community PTSD prevalence following these events. Future research could fruitfully examine the mechanisms that might explain these associations and potential interventions that can mitigate the role of media in shaping the mental health of populations following traumatic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma M Abdalla
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Gregory H Cohen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Shailesh Tamrakar
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Shaffi Fazaludeen Koya
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sandro Galea
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
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38
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Hobfoll SE, Watson P, Bell CC, Bryant RA, Brymer MJ, Friedman MJ, Friedman M, Gersons BPR, de Jong J, Layne CM, Maguen S, Neria Y, Norwood AE, Pynoos RS, Reissman D, Ruzek JI, Shalev AY, Solomon Z, Steinberg AM, Ursano RJ. Five Essential Elements of Immediate and Mid-Term Mass Trauma Intervention: Empirical Evidence. Psychiatry 2021; 84:311-346. [PMID: 35061969 DOI: 10.1080/00332747.2021.2005387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Given the devastation caused by disasters and mass violence, it is critical that intervention policy be based on the most updated research findings. However, to date, no evidence-based consensus has been reached supporting a clear set of recommendations for intervention during the immediate and the mid-term post mass trauma phases. Because it is unlikely that there will be evidence in the near or mid-term future from clinical trials that cover the diversity of disaster and mass violence circumstances, we assembled a worldwide panel of experts on the study and treatment of those exposed to disaster and mass violence to extrapolate from related fields of research, and to gain consensus on intervention principles. We identified five empirically supported intervention principles that should be used to guide and inform intervention and prevention efforts at the early to mid-term stages. These are promoting: 1) a sense of safety, 2) calming, 3) a sense of self- and community efficacy, 4) connectedness, and 5) hope.
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Casali N, Feraco T, Ghisi M, Meneghetti C. " Andrà tutto bene": Associations Between Character Strengths, Psychological Distress and Self-efficacy During Covid-19 Lockdown. JOURNAL OF HAPPINESS STUDIES 2020; 22:2255-2274. [PMID: 33071624 PMCID: PMC7553371 DOI: 10.1007/s10902-020-00321-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic obliged people around the world to stay home and self-isolate, with a number of negative psychological consequences. This study focuses on the protective role of character strengths in sustaining mental health and self-efficacy during lockdown. Data were collected from 944 Italian respondents (mean age = 37.24 years, SD = 14.50) by means of an online survey investigating character strengths, psychological distress and Covid-19-related self-efficacy one month after lockdown began. Using principal component analysis, four strengths factors were extracted, namely transcendence, interpersonal, openness and restraint. Regression models with second-order factors showed that transcendence strengths had a strong inverse association with psychological distress, and a positive association with self-efficacy. Regression models with single strengths identified hope, zest, prudence, love and forgiveness as the strengths most associated with distress, love and zest as the most related to self-efficacy and zest to general mental health. Openness factor and appreciation of beauty showed an unexpected direct relation with psychological distress. These results provide original evidence of the association of character strengths, and transcendence strengths in particular, with mental health and self-efficacy in a pandemic and are discussed within the field of positive psychology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Casali
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, Padua, Italy
| | - Tommaso Feraco
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, Padua, Italy
- Pentathlon Srl, Napoli, Italy
| | - Marta Ghisi
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, Padua, Italy
| | - Chiara Meneghetti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, Padua, Italy
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Stickley A, Oh H, Sumiyoshi T, Narita Z, Shirama A, Shin JI, Waldman K. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, media exposure, and psychotic experiences among Asian and Latino Americans. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2020; 74:572-573. [PMID: 32678467 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Stickley
- Department of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.,Stockholm Center for Health and Social Change (SCOHOST), Södertörn University, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Hans Oh
- Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Tomiki Sumiyoshi
- Department of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Zui Narita
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Aya Shirama
- Department of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jae Il Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyle Waldman
- Department of Sociology, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
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Rubaltelli E, Priolo G, Scrimin S, Moscardino U. Media Exposure to Terrorism and Perception of Immigrants as a Threat: The Role of Emotional Intelligence and Psychophysiological Self-Regulation. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2020; 40:1666-1676. [PMID: 32542673 DOI: 10.1111/risa.13498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
To better understand how media exposure to terrorism-related images can lead to perceiving immigrants as more threatening, in the present study we manipulated participants' exposure to media coverage of terrorist attacks and investigated how this may influence people's perception of Arab immigrants. Considering the important role of regulatory abilities when facing stressful events like terrorist attacks, we measured individual differences in both trait emotional intelligence and resting heart rate variability (HRV). Results showed that participants perceived Arab immigrants as more threatening in the media exposure condition than in the control condition. Importantly, there were moderating effects of both trait emotional intelligence and HRV. People with lower trait emotional intelligence or lower HRV at rest felt more threatened in the media exposure condition compared to the control condition, whereas this effect was not observed among participants with higher trait emotional intelligence or higher resting HRV. The present study highlights some of the complexities related to how media exposure to terrorism-related images influences people's reactions to, and evaluations of, an outgroup that is related to the perpetrators of the attacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Rubaltelli
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giulia Priolo
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Sara Scrimin
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ughetta Moscardino
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Chao M, Xue D, Liu T, Yang H, Hall BJ. Media use and acute psychological outcomes during COVID-19 outbreak in China. J Anxiety Disord 2020; 74:102248. [PMID: 32505918 PMCID: PMC7255752 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak in China led to an extraordinary threat to public health and wellbeing. This study examined the psychological impact of media use among people indirectly exposed to the disease during the initial phase of the outbreak. We conducted an internet-based survey on January 28, 2020 (one week after the official declaration of person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus). Media use (media forms, content of media exposure, and media engagement) related to the outbreak and psychological outcomes (positive and negative affect, anxiety, depression, and stress) of 917 Chinese adults was assessed. A series of multivariable regressions were conducted. The results showed that use of new media, rather than traditional media, was significantly associated with more negative affect, depression, anxiety, and stress. Viewing stressful content (i.e., severity of the outbreak, reports from hospital) was associated with more negative affect and depression. Media engagement was also associated with more negative affect, anxiety, and stress. However, viewing heroic acts, speeches from experts, and knowledge of the disease and prevention were associated with more positive affect and less depression. The study suggested new media use and more media engagement was associated with negative psychological outcomes, while certain media content was associated with positive psychological impact. The present study highlights the need for timely public health communication from official sources and suggests that reduced exposure to new media may be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Chao
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, China; Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, China; Center of Collaborative Innovation for Assessment and Promotion of Mental Health, China
| | - Dini Xue
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, China
| | - Tour Liu
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, China; Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, China; Center of Collaborative Innovation for Assessment and Promotion of Mental Health, China.
| | - Haibo Yang
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, China; Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, China; Center of Collaborative Innovation for Assessment and Promotion of Mental Health, China
| | - Brian J Hall
- Global and Community Mental Health Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Macao (SAR), China
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Chao M, Chen X, Liu T, Yang H, Hall BJ. Psychological distress and state boredom during the COVID-19 outbreak in China: the role of meaning in life and media use. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2020; 11:1769379. [PMID: 33029315 PMCID: PMC7473057 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1769379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemics are associated with increased burden of psychological distress. However, the role of boredom on mental health during epidemic periods has seldom been explored. OBJECTIVE This study attempted to examine the effect of state boredom on psychological outcomes, and the role of media use and meaning in life among the indirectly exposed Chinese adults in the initial phase of the COVID-19 outbreak. METHOD An online survey was administered to 917 Chinese adults on 28 January 2020 (1 week after the official declaration of person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus). Self-report questionnaires were used to assess state boredom, anxiety, depression, stress, media use and meaning in life. Moderated mediation analysis was conducted. RESULTS Our results indicated that the effect of state boredom on anxiety and stress, but not depression, were mediated by media use and that sense of meaning in life modified this association. Meaning in life served as a risk factor, rather than a protective factor for the negative psychological outcomes when people experienced boredom. The association between boredom and media use was significant for high but not low meaning in life individuals. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrated that boredom and media use were associated with an increased burden or psychological distress in the sample. It is important to pay attention to the possible negative impact of boredom and media use during COVID-19, and find more ways to cope with boredom, especially those with high presence of meaning in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Chao
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.,Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.,Center of Collaborative Innovation for Assessment and Promotion of Mental Health, Tianjin, China
| | - Xueming Chen
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Tour Liu
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.,Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.,Center of Collaborative Innovation for Assessment and Promotion of Mental Health, Tianjin, China
| | - Haibo Yang
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.,Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.,Center of Collaborative Innovation for Assessment and Promotion of Mental Health, Tianjin, China
| | - Brian J Hall
- Global and Community Mental Health Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Macao (SAR), China
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Fareng M, Lopez G, Fischer L, Morali D. Étude des victimes des attentats du 13 novembre 2015, pris en charge au centre du psychotrauma de l’institut de victimologie. PRAT PSYCHOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prps.2019.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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45
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Ma Z, Lin Z. The impact of exposure to memorial reports on the 5.12 Wenchuan earthquake on sleep quality among adult survivors ten years after the disaster: Evidence for nonlinear associations. Compr Psychiatry 2020; 97:152150. [PMID: 31864220 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2019.152150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Very few studies have explored the effect of exposure to disaster memorial reports in the media on long-term sleep quality during the recovery period and post-disaster era. This study investigated the relationship between exposure to memorial reports and adult survivors' long-term sleep quality 10 years after the 5.12 Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, and determined whether exposure to memorial reports are associated with poor sleep quality. METHOD Using a cross-sectional methodology, we surveyed participants (N = 1000) recruited from six disaster-affected counties. We measured sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire (PSQI). RESULTS After controlling for the effects of demographic factors, socioeconomic status, and earthquake exposure factors, exposure to memorial reports and the PSQI global score had a strong inverted U-shaped relationship. Relationships among three sub-scores of PSQI (subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, daytime dysfunction) were also found to have similar relationships with memorial report exposure. That is, survivors who were exposed to low or high degrees of memorial reports had better sleep quality than those who were exposed to intermediate memorial reports. DISCUSSION The curvilinear relationship between media exposure and sleep quality in the post-disaster era reveals that media exposure could be used to identify victims at risk of poor sleep quality. Clinicians and practitioners may consider adopting psychological intervention programs to enhance victims' psychological controllability to overcome mental disorders caused by media exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Ma
- Computational Communication Collaboratory, School of Journalism and Communication, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China
| | - Zhongxuan Lin
- School of Journalism and Communication, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China.
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Ma Z, Xia Y, Lin Z. Post-Traumatic Growth Following Exposure to Memorial Reports of the 5.12 Wenchuan Earthquake: The Moderating Roles of Self-Esteem and Long-Term PTSD Symptoms. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E3239. [PMID: 31487834 PMCID: PMC6765798 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16183239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Media exposure during a traumatic event has been found to be associated with negative psychological consequences. However, the post-disaster role of the mass media and the possible positive psychological consequences of media exposure has received less attention. In the present study, we hypothesized that exposure to memorial media reports would lead to improved post-traumatic growth (PTG). Further, we evaluated the moderating role of self-esteem and long-term post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in the relationship between media exposure and PTG. Using a cross-sectional design, we surveyed individuals (N = 1000, mean age = 45.62, 43.5% male) who were recruited from disaster-affected communities ten years after the 5.12 Wenchuan earthquake which was the largest country-level trauma in the past three decades. Results revealed that individuals with lower self-esteem or lower PTSD symptoms would have higher psychological growth with greater exposure to memorial news reports. For individuals who reported having both high levels of self-esteem and PTSD symptoms, the relationship between media exposure and PTG was negative. These findings help present trauma in a new light, particularly regarding the rapid and instantaneous new coverage of the digital age. This study also has multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural, and clinical implications for the fields of psychology, public health, and communications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Ma
- Computational Communication Collaboratory, School of Journalism and Communication, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Yiwei Xia
- School of Law, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Zhongxuan Lin
- School of Journalism and Communication, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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Tynes BM, Willis HA, Stewart AM, Hamilton MW. Race-Related Traumatic Events Online and Mental Health Among Adolescents of Color. J Adolesc Health 2019; 65:371-377. [PMID: 31196779 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Viral videos of the detainment of undocumented immigrants in cages and police killings of unarmed citizens are two of the most pressing traumatic events facing adolescents of color. However, little is known about whether these online experiences are linked to mental health outcomes. This study examines the association between exposure to such events online and mental health in a sample of African American and Latinx adolescents. METHODS Data were collected from a national sample of 302 African American and Latinx adolescents aged 11-19 years. Participants reported their exposure to traumatic events online (TEO), depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and other sociodemographics. Multiple regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS Analyses indicated a significant association between TEO and both PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms, indicating that more frequent experiences of TEO were associated with higher levels of PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms. In addition, regression analyses further indicated that girls reported higher PTSD and depressive symptoms than boys. Latinx participants also reported increased depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This study extends recent research that suggests police killings, as well as viewing distressing news directed at members of one's own racial-ethnic group or those who share the same immigration status, are related to poor mental health outcomes. Researchers should also explore what protective factors may buffer youth against the outcomes typically associated with these events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendesha M Tynes
- Center for Empowered Learning and Development with Technology, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Henry A Willis
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Ashley M Stewart
- Center for Empowered Learning and Development with Technology, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Matthew W Hamilton
- Center for Empowered Learning and Development with Technology, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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Puente S, Marín H, Álvarez PP, Flores PM, Grassau D. Mental health and media links based on five essential elements to promote psychosocial support for victims: the case of the earthquake in Chile in 2010. DISASTERS 2019; 43:555-574. [PMID: 31206228 DOI: 10.1111/disa.12377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This paper reviews the role of news with respect to the mental health of a population exposed to a disaster. It is based on the five essential elements of psychosocial care presented by Stevan E. Hobfoll et al. (2007) that can be introduced after a potentially traumatic event: promoting a sense of safety, calming, self and collective efficacy, connectedness, and hope. This study developed a method to relate these elements to television coverage and applied it to the stories (n=1,169) aired by the main networks in Chile in the 72 hours after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck on 27 February 2010. Of the five elements, promoting a sense of safety occurred most often (82.72 per cent), whereas the others were barely present (less than 10 per cent). The study argues that these elements can increase the possibility of framing the news, given that the audience watching can also be affected by a disaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soledad Puente
- Full Professor in the Faculty of Communications, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
| | - Humberto Marín
- Member of the Trauma and Dissociation Unit in the Department of Psychiatry, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, and an Associated Researcher at the Research Center for Integrated Disaster Risk Management (CIGIDEN), Chile
| | - Pamela P Álvarez
- Assistant Professor at the Department of Engineering Science, Universidad Andres Bello, and a Researcher at CIGIDEN, Chile
| | - Pablo M Flores
- PhD student in the Department of Communication, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Daniela Grassau
- PhD student and an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Communications, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
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Pfefferbaum B, Nitiéma P, Newman E. Is Viewing Mass Trauma Television Coverage Associated With Trauma Reactions in Adults and Youth? A Meta-Analytic Review. J Trauma Stress 2019; 32:175-185. [PMID: 30913350 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
This study presents the findings of meta-analyses examining the association between viewing mass trauma television coverage and posttraumatic stress (PTS) outcomes as well as acute stress reactions (ASR) among adults and youth. A literature search identified 43 (N = 31,162) studies assessing the association between viewing mass trauma television coverage and PTS and four (N = 9,083) assessing the association with ASR. The overall size of the association between viewing television coverage and PTS, estimated using a random-effect model, was small but statistically significant, r = .17, 95% CI [.13, .22]. The moderator analysis examined eight preselected variables: man-made versus natural trauma, specific incident versus chronic stressor, adult versus youth sample, proximal versus distal event exposure, television only versus combined media form, specific content in coverage versus no specific content, quantification of media contact using numeric measurement versus subjective measurement versus a binary item, and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) versus posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) outcome. The analysis revealed a statistically significant moderation effect for the quantification of media contact (numeric vs. subjective vs. binary) only, which accounted for 19% of the observed heterogeneity. With a summary estimate of r = .26, 95% CI [.06, .44], the analysis of the ASR studies corroborated the PTS findings. The results suggest that clinicians and public health practitioners should discuss mass trauma television viewing with their patients and with the public. Limitations of the extant research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty Pfefferbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Pascal Nitiéma
- Department of Management Information Systems, Price College of Business, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Elana Newman
- Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
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50
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Bakker LP, Småstuen MC, Reichelt JG, Gjerstad CL, Weisaeth L, Herlofsen PH, Grov EK. Sleep quality problems three decades post-disaster. Nord J Psychiatry 2019; 73:104-110. [PMID: 30663933 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2018.1563214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Sleep quality problems are a core feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aims of this study were to describe and evaluate possible differences regarding sleep quality problems and hyperarousal symptoms between exposed and unexposed survivors after an avalanche. Further, we wanted to describe any association between avalanche exposure and survivors' self-reported sleep quality problems and posttraumatic stress (disorder) symptoms with and without hyperarousal symptoms. METHOD The participants were soldiers who had survived an avalanche (n = 12) and a sample of unexposed soldiers (n = 9). Subjective sleep quality problems and posttraumatic stress (disorder) symptoms were assessed using well-validated measures: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Posttraumatic Symptom Scale-10 (PTSS-10), and Impact of Event Scale-15 (IES-15). Hyperarousal symptoms were assessed using a 3-item hyperarousal-index from PTSS-10 (PTSS-10/Hyp index). RESULTS No significant difference in sleep quality problems was revealed between the exposed and unexposed groups. There was a significant association between those with PTSS-10 ≥ 4 combined with hyperarousal symptoms and sleep quality problems (p = .046), 30 years after the avalanche. Likewise, no significant associations was revaled between those with sleep quality problems and IES-15 ≥ 26 with and without hyperarousal. Binary logistic regression showed that those with sleep quality problems (PSQI > 5) 30 years post-disaster, had 2.5 times greater odds (OR = 2.49, 95%CI [0.95-6.55], p = .064) of having hyperarousal symptoms during the whole follow-up period compared to those without sleep quality problems. CONCLUSION Our findings may indicate an association between sleep quality problems (PSQI > 5) and hyperarousal symptoms in soldiers with scores above cut-off point for posttraumatic stress (disorder) symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars-Petter Bakker
- a Norwegian Armed Forces Joint Medical Services , Institute of Military Psychiatry , Oslo , Norway
| | - Milada Cvancarova Småstuen
- b Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences , Oslo Metropolitan University , Oslo , Norway
| | - Jon Gerhard Reichelt
- a Norwegian Armed Forces Joint Medical Services , Institute of Military Psychiatry , Oslo , Norway
| | - Christer Lunde Gjerstad
- a Norwegian Armed Forces Joint Medical Services , Institute of Military Psychiatry , Oslo , Norway
| | | | | | - Ellen Karine Grov
- b Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences , Oslo Metropolitan University , Oslo , Norway
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