Trauma and Mental Health Impacts from Indirect Exposure to Stressful Media on Adolescents in the Houston Area

Abstract

Past research on trauma has indicated that indirect exposure to violent crises causes post-traumatic stress (PTS) in adults, but no such studies have been conducted on children. Thus, the objective of this study was to explore the question:  To what extent does media coverage of traumatic global issues influence the development of complex PTS in adolescents in Greater Houston? The conclusions of this study aim to explore PTS prevention and mitigate long-term physiological consequences of increased cortisol levels. The study utilized a mixed-method approach of a quantitative survey on 49 adolescents from ages twelve to eighteen in the Houston region and was measured through a Likert Scale system of participants’ relatability to presented scenarios. The second part of the method conducted qualitative interviews with a parent and a psychologist to qualify the survey results and provide a scientific perspective respectively. Results were analyzed through thematic analysis of major internal and environmental factors that contribute to child PTS including amount of exposure, Covid-specific circumstances, gender, personality, and previous trauma. The study concludes that children have more media exposure in the Digital Age and are experiencing increased anxiety, causing growing concern of long-term effects on emotional health. Further research will need to be conducted to determine whether media exposure is the primary trigger of stress and how personality plays a role in an individual’s perception of media.