Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Aug 18, 2021
Date Accepted: Apr 18, 2022
Date Submitted to PubMed: May 10, 2022
Media Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Pathogenic or Salutogenic?
ABSTRACT
Background:
While exposure to COVID-related stressors, level of peritraumatic distress, and frequency of media use for seeking COVID-related information can increase the risk for trauma- and stressor-related (TSR) symptoms during the pandemic, frequency of social media use for support and connection may buffer these effects.
Objective:
We examined the associations between COVID-related stressors and frequency of media use for information-seeking on TSR symptoms, with a focus on the indirect effects of social media use for support-seeking and peritraumatic distress.
Methods:
A path model was tested in an international sample of 5 913 adults who completed an online survey.
Results:
COVID-related stressors (β = .25, p <.05) and information-seeking through media (β = .24, p <.05) were significantly associated with TSR symptoms in bivariate comparisons. Levels of peritraumatic distress and frequency of social media use for support were significant intermediary variables (respectively, β=0.71, p<.05; β=.02, p<.05).
Conclusions:
Results suggest that exposure to COVID-related stressors and seeking COVID-related information through the media are associated with higher levels of peritraumatic distress and, in turn, higher levels of TSR symptoms. Although exposure to the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic may be unavoidable, the frequency consuming COVID-related information through the media should be approached with caution. Clinical Trial: NA
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Copyright
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