Effects of media exposure on adolescents traumatized in a school shooting

J Trauma Stress. 2011 Feb;24(1):70-7. doi: 10.1002/jts.20605. Epub 2011 Jan 25.

Abstract

This study analyzes the impact of the media on adolescents traumatized in a school shooting. Participants were trauma-exposed students (n = 231) and comparison students (n = 526), aged 13-19 years. A questionnaire that included the Impact of Event Scale and a 36-item General Health Questionnaire was administered 4 months after the shooting. Being interviewed was associated with higher scores on the Impact of Event Scale (p = .005), but posttraumatic symptoms did not differ between those who refused to be interviewed and those not approached by reporters. Following a higher number of media outlets did not affect symptoms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Crime Victims / psychology
  • Female
  • Finland / epidemiology
  • Homicide / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Mass Casualty Incidents / psychology*
  • Mass Media*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Students / psychology*
  • Survivors / psychology
  • Young Adult