As the coronavirus pandemic has spread, the news industry has become a crucial conduit through which government and health authorities have communicated with citizens on their recommended actions, changes to the law, and policy support for those affected by both the virus itself and the economic lockdown that has accompanied it.

Coupled with the forced reduction in work many people have had imposed upon them, consumption of news content has risen considerably, but new research from the University of California, Irvine highlights how this can have a negative impact on our mental health.

“It’s a public health paradox that has been identified during and in the aftermath of other collective stressors, such as the 2014 Ebola outbreak,” the researchers explain.

Shared trauma

The researchers explored various other traumatic events, from the Boston Marathon bombing to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa to examine how the widespread media coverage, and the subsequent consumption of it by people, affected their anxiety levels both during and after the events.

This elevated emotional response was linked to a range of adverse physical and mental health outcomes, including post-traumatic stress and cardiovascular disorders.  At the moment, this coincides with critical shortages of key pieces of equipment, which can result in those most in need not getting the care they need, which the coverage of can exacerbate the worry people experience.

“There’s a relationship between stress responses and physical health outcomes that accumulates over time,” the researchers explain.  “Those people with the greatest concerns continue to seek out more media coverage, which may create a cycle of distress. It’s imperative for the public to avoid speculative stories and limit repetitious exposure to stories that offer little new information. News organizations must convey relevant knowledge without sensationalism or disturbing images.”

The researchers recommend public health officials make strategic use of social media to provide regular updates, but also for people to judiciously follow specific and reliable sources rather than consume a daily diet of coverage from around the world.

“Many questions about effectively keeping the public informed during a collective crisis, particularly with regard to social media, need further study,” the researchers conclude.  “We hope that during the current coronavirus outbreak, health scientists are beginning to design and construct such research to gain insight into constructive techniques that can be used by health agencies now and in the future.”