Youth Anxiety and Media Coverage of Traumatic Events

[Dr. Janine Domingues] What are some of the risk factors? We know research shows that just new coverage of events can produce increased fears of anxiety in children. And there are certain risk factors to that. Certainly, a biological predisposition, something that comes individually, and for anxiety certainly can increase risk as we are absorbing some of these images. But we also know greater time spent watching media coverage places kids at greater risk, particularly graphic images or detailed images of violence, places kids at a greater risk for anxiety and even symptoms of post-traumatic stress. A personal connection to the event, so knowing somebody there, proximity to the event, or even a personal connection through race, culture, ethnicity of people who are being, you know, portrayed on media can place a child at greater risk for developing anxiety and also symptoms of post-traumatic stress. And lastly, there’s some research to suggest types of media, right. So social media like TikTok and Instagram and sensationalized images on that media platforms can actually place kids at a greater risk than maybe what they’re watching on the news.