Mental health hygiene during a health crisis: Exploring factors associated with media-induced secondary trauma in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic

Nishtha Lamba; Olga Khokhlova; Aditi Bhatia; Cillian McHugh

doi:10.1177/20551029231199578

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 Sep 22;10(2):20551029231199578. doi: 10.1177/20551029231199578. eCollection 2023 Jul-Dec.

Authors

Nishtha Lamba¹, Olga Khokhlova¹, Aditi Bhatia¹, Cillian McHugh²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Middlesex University Dubai, Dubai, UAE.
² Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.

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.

Keywords: compliance; conspiracy theories; media trauma; news media; pandemic; paranoia; public health measures.