Watching traumatic events for hours on the media leads to acute stress — even more than being there.
When a tragic event occurs, many people become glued to the media, which continuously replay the trauma, as with the 9/11 attacks and Superstorm Sandy. These researchers have examined the development of acute stress responses after direct exposure to the Boston Marathon bombing (BMB) in 2013 or after exposure to related media coverage.
Two to 4 weeks after the BMB, the investigators conducted an Internet-based survey about exposure to this and similar events with 846 Boston-area residents, 941 New York City residents, and 2888 people from other parts of the U.S. The questionnaire also assessed acute stress response to the BMB and hours spent on related media content. Among 4652 respondents, almost 10% reported that they or someone close to t…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)