People who view violent news events on social media could develop symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder, claims a new study.
Dr Pam Ramsden at the University of Bradford explained that the negative effects of exposure to other people's suffering have long been recognized in roles such as professional healthcare workers.
Watching these unedited horrific events and feeling the anguish of those directly experiencing them may impact on our daily lives, and hence they wanted to see if people would experience longer lasting effects such as stress and anxiety, and in some cases post-traumatic stress disorders from viewing these images.
Some 189 participants completed clinical assessments for PTSD, a personality questionnaire, a vicarious trauma assessment and a questionnaire concerning different violent news events on social media or the internet. These included the 9/11 Twin Tower attacks, school shootings and suicide bombings.
Dr Ramsden said that it was worrying that nearly a quarter of those who viewed the images scored high on clinical measures of PTSD. There was also an increased risk for those with outgoing, extroverted personalities. With increased access to social media and the internet via tablets and smartphones, there was a need to ensure that people were aware of the risks of viewing these images and that appropriate support was available for those who required it.
The study will be presented at the Annual Conference of the British Psychology Society being held in Liverpool.