Excessive Media Coverage Of Disasters Can Harm Your Children, And Even Result In Symptoms Of Post-Traumatic Stress
Psychologists at Florida State University have published a new study that found “greater exposure to media coverage of traumatic events to be associated with greater symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress” in children.
It is now the most extensive long-term analysis of brain development and children in the United States to date.
This study was inspired by a previous study also conducted at Florida State University. Led by Anthony Dick and Jonathan Comer, this iteration analyzed how natural disasters affected children’s brain development.
This study confirmed suspicions of Post-Traumatic Stress symptoms and found variations in the brain’s threat-detecting region.
Four hundred children, aged nine to eleven, participated in this study. Scientists collected functional neuroimaging data and any history of trauma and anxiety.
Interestingly enough, during the study, Hurricane Irma hit Florida State University. While devastating, this hurricane nonetheless provided a perfect opportunity to collect information related to storm exposure, media exposure, and Post-Traumatic Stress symptoms.
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress may begin as early as one month after a traumatic event or manifest years later.
Symptoms may include intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions– all in varying intensity.
These symptoms cause “significant problems in social or work situations and in relationships. They can also interfere with your ability to go about your normal daily tasks.”
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So, while children’s brains are still developing, it is crucial to prevent any trauma that could impact their understanding or ability to feel comfortable in different environments.
Anthony Dick, a psychology professor and researcher at The Center for Children and Families, believes this is why education of this study and preventative measures are so important.
“PTS can adversely affect long term health in children, but these findings will help us inform communities and families on how they can better prepare for and respond to disasters in ways that mitigate potential negative long-term mental health effects,” Dick said.
It can be easy to forget that children watch alongside you in our media-saturated world as you consume daily news coverage.
Additionally, it is essential to note that, according to the study’s research, proximity to any traumatic event covered in the media is irrelevant.
If children are exposed to the event digitally, no matter how far, they could walk away negatively impacted by the trauma.
As these four hundred children grow into adulthood, they will continue to be studied in order to understand how their brains respond to new disasters.
This will close out the very first grand-scale study that focuses on disaster exposure in conjunction with cognitive outcomes in children, making it a landmark success in the scientific community.
To read the complete scientific study for more information, click here.
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