The mediating effect of depression between exposure to potentially traumatic events and PTSD in news journalists

Abstract

BackgroundNews journalists are an occupational group with a unique task at the scene of an unfolding crisis—to collect information and inform the public about the event. By being on location, journalists put themselves at risk for being exposed to the potentially traumatic event.ObjectiveTo compare potentially traumatic exposure during work assignments at a crisis scene and in personal life as predictors of the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in news journalists. Further, to investigate the mediating effect of depression between the predictor and predicted variables.MethodWith a web-based questionnaire, information from a sample of Finnish news journalists (n=407) was collected. The data collected included details on the range of potentially traumatic assignments (PTAs) at the crisis scene during the past 12 months, lifetime potentially traumatic events (PTEs) in personal life, PTSD symptoms, and level of depression.ResultsApproximately 50% of the participants had worked with a PTA during the past 12 months. Depression had a significant indirect effect on the relationship between PTAs at the scene and symptoms of PTSD. A similar result was found regarding the relationship between personal life PTEs and PTSD. Depression had a complete indirect effect in the case of PTAs and a partial indirect effect in regard to PTE exposure in personal life.ConclusionsExposure to PTAs is common within journalistic work. The results reflect the importance of understanding the underlying mechanisms of the measured symptoms (PTSD, depression) in relation to trauma history. The main limitations of the study include the cross-sectional design and the nature of the instruments used for the collection of work-related trauma history.

A decennial review of psychotraumatology: what did we learn and where are we going?

“…Thus, today's research reflects both primary and secondary traumatization as well as research into associated risk and protective factors in various occupational groups (e.g. bank employees, ministerial employees, humanitarian staff, military services, police officers, mental care professionals, journalists, first responders, industrial disasters, and therapists (Backholm & Björkqvist, 2012;Christiansen & Hansen, 2015;Greinacher et al, 2019;Hansen & Elklit, 2011;Koch et al, 2017;Nissen, Hansen, Nielsen, Knardahl, & Heir, 2019; Ponce de León, Andersen, Karstoft, & Elklit, 2018;Skogstad et al, 2013: Sodeke-Gregson et al, 2013Strohmeier & Scholte, 2015;Yehuda et al, 2014). Specifically, this has included an increased awareness and focus on risk and protective factors not only at an individual level but also at an organizational level (Greinacher et al, 2019;Koch et al, 2017;Nissen et al, 2019).…”

Covering traumatic news stories: Factors associated with post‐traumatic stress disorder among journalists

“…In particular, exposure to war, drug-related conflict, and other high-intensity assignments are associated with greater PTSD symptoms severity among journalists (Backholm & Björkqvist, 2010;Dworznik, 2011;Feinstein, 2013;Feinstein et al, 2002;Morales, 2012Morales, , 2014Pyevich et al, 2003). Although factors such as age, gender, and years of experience have been examined among journalists, the results remain mixed (Backholm & Björkqvist, 2012b;Feinstein, 2013;McMahon, 2001;Simpson & Boggs, 1999;Sinyor & Feinstein, 2012;Teegen & Grotwinkel, 2001). To date, the only empirical study published (Beam & Spratt, 2009) in this area demonstrates a positive correlation between job satisfaction and perceptions that management would be supportive of trauma-related occupational distress but does not directly measure PTSD or distress.…”

Risk Factors for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: The Role of Previous Traumas, Peri-traumatic Response, Social Support and Body-image

“…It has been suggested that some risk factors act differently depending on the type of trauma [14]. Empirical evidence indicates that interpersonal traumas, both sexual and physical, cause severe damage to victims' bodies and consequently to the way in which they relate to their bodies more than non-interpersonal traumas [14,15].…”

“…Empirical evidence indicates that interpersonal traumas, both sexual and physical, cause severe damage to victims' bodies and consequently to the way in which they relate to their bodies more than non-interpersonal traumas [14,15]. This suggests that body-image may mediate the development of PTSD in individuals exposed to interpersonal traumas, but not in survivors of non-interpersonal traumas.…”