Viewing violent news via social media may increase feelings of trauma

Viewing violent news events via social media evoked symptoms similar to PTSD, according to study findings presented at the Annual Conference of the British Psychology Society in Liverpool.

“The negative effects of exposure to other people’s suffering have long been recognized [and] various studies have documented the negative psychological reactions following indirect exposure to traumatized people called vicarious traumatization,” study researcher Pam Ramsden, PhD, said in a press release. “Social media has enabled violent stories and graphic images to be watched by the public in unedited horrific detail. Watching these events and feeling the anguish of those directly experiencing them may impact on our daily lives.”

To assess the effects of viewing traumatic images, Ramsden conducted two clinical assessments for PTSD and a vicarious trauma assessment among 189 study participants with a mean age of 37 years. Participants also completed a personality test and a questionnaire concerning five different violent events on social media, including the attacks on the Twin Towers, school shootings and suicide bombings.

Twenty-two percent of the study cohort had high scores on clinical assessments for PTSD, indicating they were significantly affected by media events despite not being present or having a history of trauma.

The number of times media events were viewed was significantly correlated with increased risk for trauma.

Having an extroverted personality was also associated with increased risk for traumatic symptoms.

“It is quite worrying that nearly a quarter of those who viewed the images scored high on clinical measures of PTSD. There was also an increased risk for those with outgoing, extroverted personalities,” Ramsden said. “With increased access to social media and the internet via tablets and smartphones, we need to ensure that people are aware of the risks of viewing these images and that appropriate support is available for those who need it.”

Reference:

Ramsden P. Abstract #2468. Presented at: Annual Conference of the British Psychology Society; May 5-7, 2015; Liverpool, U.K.

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