Media Contact and Posttraumatic Stress in Employees of New York City Area Businesses after the September 11 Attacks
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine associations between media contact and posttraumatic stress in a sample with a large number of individuals who were directly exposed to the September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks and to compare outcomes in exposed and unexposed participants. METHODS: Structured interviews and questionnaires were administered to a volunteer sample of 254 employees of New York City businesses 35 months after the attacks to document disaster trauma exposures, posttraumatic stress outcomes, and media contact and reactions. RESULTS: Media variables were not associated with psychopathological outcomes in exposed participants, but media contact in the first week after the attacks and feeling moderately/extremely bothered by graphic 9/11 media images were associated with re-experiencing symptoms in both the exposed and unexposed participants. Feeling moderately/extremely bothered by graphic media images was associated with hyperarousal symptoms in exposed participants. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that media contact did not lead to psychopathology in exposed individuals, although it was associated with normative distress in both exposure groups. Because of the potential for adverse effects associated with media contact, clinicians and public health professionals are encouraged to discuss concerns about mass trauma media contact with their patients and the public at large.
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A study involving 404 socioeconomically diverse adults found that higher frequencies of TV viewing, media sharing, and online friendships were significantly associated with greater PTSD symptom severity, even after controlling for depression severity.
“Another study involving 404 socioeconomically diverse adults found that higher frequencies of TV viewing, media sharing, and online friendships were significantly associated with greater PTSD symptom severity, even after controlling for depression severity [131,132,133,134].”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [132]
Extensive media coverage of the Paris terrorist attacks correlated with higher PTSS, especially in those exposed to over four hours of daily media.
“Similarly, extensive media coverage of the Paris terrorist attacks correlated with higher PTSS, especially in those exposed to over four hours of daily media.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [132]
In Chinese populations, prolonged media exposure and social media use were associated with higher acute stress and probable acute stress disorder.
“In Chinese populations, prolonged media exposure and social media use were associated with higher acute stress and probable acute stress disorder.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [132]
A study of New York City employees three years after the 9/11 attacks revealed that early media contact and distress from graphic images were linked to re-experiencing symptoms and hyperarousal, even among unexposed participants.
“For instance, a study of New York City employees three years after the 9/11 attacks revealed that early media contact and distress from graphic images were linked to re-experiencing symptoms and hyperarousal, even among unexposed participants.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [132]
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Rigutto, C., Sapara, A. O., & Agyapong, V. I. O. (2021) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs11100140 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
“, 2020 [46] Media Contact and Posttraumatic Stress in Employees of New York City Area Businesses after the 11 September Attacks Event, date & place: World Trade center (WTC) attacks, 11th September 2001, New York City Type of study: comparative study N: 254 employees of New York City businesses (105 exposed and 149 un…”
BackgroundShchaslyvyi, A. Y., Antonenko, S. V., & Telegeev, G. D. (2024) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph21081077 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Overmeire, R. V., Stene, L. E., Vandekerckhove, M. M. P., Six, S., Deschepper, R., & Bilsen, J. J. R. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph20042876 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“We know that being directly exposed is a better predictor than media watching [5,6], but working or living close to the area of the attack remains understudied when combined with media watching.”
BackgroundAbu-Hamad, S. J., Pollio, D. E., Moden, M., & North, C. S. (2022) · International Journal of Mass Emergencies & Disasters · doi:10.1177/028072702204000204 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“…distinction in the understanding of disaster experiences and mental health outcomes (Knez et al. 2021; North et al. 2011; North and Pfefferbaum 2013; Pfefferbaum, Palka, and North 2020), using data collected from general population surveys or social media (Ahmad et al. 2021; Yang et al. 2019).”
MethodTranslational Impacts of World Trade Center Health Program Research: A Mixed Methods Study
Concannon, T. W., Faherty, L. J., Madrigano, J., Mann, S., Chari, R., Siddiqi, S. M., Lee, J., & Hiatt, L. (2021) · Rand health quarterly · doi:10.7249/rhq-09-03-08 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Watch Out: A Public Health Perspective on the Societal Impact of Terrorism
Overmeire, R. V. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-31560-1_4
- Authors
- Pfefferbaum, B., Palka, J., & North, C. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (US)
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Pfefferbaum, Betty
- Venue
- Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2020-09-08
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 163-169
- ISSN
- 1935-7893 (ISSN-L)
- 1938-744X
- OpenAlex
- W3083986774
- Cited by
- 6
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 0.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Emergency Medical Services › Disaster Response and Management
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Keywords
- September 11 attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, media contact, re-experiencing symptoms, hyperarousal, company employees, New York City
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Mass Media, New York City, Psychopathology, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Terrorism, September 11 Terrorist Attacks
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