Examining Relationships between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Severity and Types of Media/Technology Usage
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Psychopathology, cyberpsychology, and mass media theories link psychological symptoms, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to increased media and technology usage (MTU). Given limited research in this area, we uniquely examined if specific MTU facets were associated with PTSD symptom severity. METHOD: , Media and Technology Usage and Attitudes Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. RESULTS: = .006) were associated with greater PTSD symptom severity. CONCLUSION: Study findings suggest that the extent of MTU behaviors (especially extent of TV use, media sharing, and online friendships) are important to examine in trauma-exposed individuals with PTSD symptoms. Results generalize to trauma-exposed community members and are considered within the context of current MTU theories. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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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 [131]
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 [131]
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 [131]
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 [131]
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Shchaslyvyi, 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
Peng, Q., Wan, X., Li-min, Z., & Wang, X. (2024) · Early Child Development and Care · doi:10.1080/03004430.2024.2426573 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“However, while existing research primarily focuses on the prevalence and indicators of PTSD (Binford, Dolan, Elhai, & Contractor, 2024), few studies have explored the connection between epidemic-induced PTSD and children’s media use.”
Ilyas, Y., Daryani, S. H., Kiriella, D. A., Pachwicewicz, P., Boley, R. A., Reyes, K. M., Smith, D. L., Zalta, A. K., Schueller, S. M., Karnik, N. S., et al. (2023) · JMIR Formative Research · doi:10.2196/45309 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“Indeed, the current findings add to a growing body of literature suggesting that movement patterns [18-20] and increased Wi-Fi use [35-37] may indicate when youth experiencing homelessness are at increased risk for experiencing mental health symptoms.”
BackgroundZhang, H.-X. (2024) · Psychiatry Investigation · doi:10.30773/pi.2024.0112 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“35 For instance, Fantasia et al. 36 show the tendency for addictive behaviors to develop through information over-searching and information avoidance in military veteran populations diagnosed with PTSD. Past studies have documented that COVID-19 pandemic-re-lated psychological symptoms, such as the…”
BackgroundMilam, L. C., Dick, O. G., McGettrick, C. R., Brown, J. B., & Woodward, M. J. (2024) · International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction · doi:10.1007/s11469-024-01415-9 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Notably, recent work has found that all PTSD cluster symptoms were correlated with PSU, even after controlling for depression (Binford et al., 2024; Contractor et al., 2019).”
Ha, J., Kim, J. N., Hidalgo, J. E., Noble, N. C., & Price, M. (2024) · Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science · doi:10.1007/s41347-024-00468-w · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Shoshani, A., & Kor, A. (2025) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1002/jad.70060 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Empirical evidence links both traumatic experiences and psychiatric symptoms to increased digital engagement (Binford et al. 2024; Jackson et al. 2021).”
Padmanabhanunni, A., & Pretorius, T. (2025) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare13233087 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Although the majority of research on smartphone addiction and mental health has focused on stress, anxiety and depression, there is growing evidence of the association between problematic mobile phone use and elevated symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [19,20].”
Genetic predisposition to digital device use and the risk of five psychiatric disorders
Liu, Q., & Zhang, Z. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1463212
- Authors
- Binford, J., Dolan, M., Elhai, J. D., & Contractor, A. A.
- Affiliations
- George Fox University (US)
- University of North Texas (US)
- University of Toledo (US)
- Venue
- Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy
- Published
- 2024-01
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 92-97
- ISSN
- 1942-9681 (ISSN-L)
- 1942-969X
- OpenAlex
- W4290673866
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 2.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD symptom severity, television viewing, media sharing, online friendship, trauma exposure, cyberpsychology, mass media
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Psychopathology, Regression Analysis, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
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