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New study reveals troubling effects of constant media exposure on teens’ mental health
In the wake of the devastating school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, a new study has shed light on the detrimental impact that persistent media coverage of such tragedies can have on adolescents. Conducted by researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Indiana University Bloomington, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the study reveals that exposure to ongoing news coverage of school shootings is strongly linked to higher rates of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among teenagers.
Published in the Journal of Children and Media, the research focused on the May 2022 Uvalde shooting, where 19 children and two teachers lost their lives. The study surveyed 942 U.S. adolescents aged 13 to 17 to explore how news consumption affects their mental health. The findings are alarming: teens who consumed more news about the shooting were more likely to report symptoms of depression and PTSD, including heightened anxiety, trouble concentrating, and fear.
“The more news these adolescents consumed about the Uvalde shooting, the more likely they were to exhibit signs of PTSD,” said Erica Scharrer, professor of communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and co-author of the study. “This was particularly troubling because we had hoped that coping strategies like reassuring oneself of personal safety would help mitigate these responses, but the opposite was true.”
The research revealed that cognitive coping strategies, such as telling oneself that such an event was unlikely to happen to them, may inadvertently worsen stress. Scharrer explained that these methods might reinforce fears by forcing young people to dwell on the traumatic event.
“We found that the more the young people in our sample used these cognitive coping techniques, the more likely they were to experience PTSD symptoms,” Scharrer said. “The very act of thinking about a shooting, even if you’re trying to reassure yourself, can intensify your distress.”
In addition to these alarming psychological effects, the study also highlighted specific aspects of the Uvalde coverage that deeply disturbed teens. Many respondents expressed being particularly upset by the young age of the victims. Others reported that the idea of a similar tragedy happening at their own school heightened their anxiety. Several participants also voiced anger over the delayed response by law enforcement personnel during the attack.
“The idea that children could fall prey to such senseless violence was horrifying,” one respondent said. Another added, “This could happen at my school, and that scares me a lot.”
The researchers are calling for a reevaluation of how school shootings are covered in the media, urging news outlets to prioritize fact-based reporting and avoid sensationalizing the tragedy. They argue that graphic imagery and sensational headlines only serve to amplify the trauma experienced by young viewers.
In addition to media responsibility, Scharrer offered advice for parents who are struggling to support their children through the flood of tragic news. She stressed that parents should allow their children to take the lead in discussions rather than guiding the conversation themselves. Research has shown that well-intentioned attempts by parents to bring up such tragedies can, in fact, exacerbate emotional distress.
“Let your child guide the way,” Scharrer advised. “Sometimes, even well-meaning conversations can increase anxiety if they feel forced or if the tragedy is repeatedly discussed.”
Mental health professionals are also encouraged to ask adolescents about their media consumption when screening for symptoms of depression and PTSD, especially for those in communities affected by violence.
Since the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, more than 378,000 young people have experienced gun violence at school. In 2022 alone, the U.S. experienced nearly one school shooting per week. The rising frequency of such events, coupled with constant media exposure, has created a concerning mental health crisis among teenagers, one that demands immediate attention.
The study’s authors hope that their research will lead to more thoughtful discussions about how media can shape the mental health of young people, especially in the context of such traumatic events. They also hope to foster a broader conversation on the need for better support systems for adolescents coping with the emotional toll of mass violence.
For further reading, the full study is available in the Journal of Children and Media (2024).
