Indirectly experienced negative life events are not considered Criterion A traumatic events per DSM‐5 posttraumatic stress disorder diagnostic criteria, yet individuals indirectly exposed to trauma via the media may report these events as peak traumatic experiences. We studied which events people considered to be the “worst” in their lifetimes to gain a better understanding of the types of events individuals consider to be distressing. This longitudinal study included a nationally representative sample of U.S. residents living outside New York (N = 1,606) who were exposed to the September 11th, 2001 (9/11) terror attacks exclusively via the media. Bereavement was the most frequently cited “worst” life event (42.0%); violent events were cited by 11.4% of the sample. However, 22.0% of respondents reported 9/11 as their worst life event even though they did not directly experience the attacks. More lifetime exposure to violent events and bereavement, odds ratios (ORs) = 0.79 and 0.72, respectively, and a college education, OR = 0.61, were associated with decreased odds of naming 9/11 as one's worst life event. Watching 4 or more hours of 9/11‐related television coverage in the week after the attacks, OR = 1.67, and identifying as African American, OR = 2.01, were associated with increased odds of naming 9/11 as one's worst life event 1 year after the attacks. Events experienced indirectly through the media may be considered the worst of people's lives, with important implications for assessing stressful life event history and understanding indirect exposure to negative life events.

中文翻译：

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在具有全国代表性的美国样本中报告了最糟糕的生活事件和媒体对恐怖主义的曝光。

根据DSM-5创伤后应激障碍诊断标准，间接经历的负面生活事件不被视为标准 A 创伤事件，但通过媒体间接暴露于创伤的个人可能会将这些事件报告为创伤经历高峰。我们研究了人们认为是他们一生中“最糟糕”的事件，以更好地了解人们认为令人痛苦的事件类型。这项纵向研究包括居住在纽约以外的美国居民的全国代表性样本（N= 1,606)，他们完全通过媒体接触了 2001 年 9 月 11 日 (9/11) 的恐怖袭击。丧亲之痛是最常被提及的“最糟糕”的生活事件（42.0%）；11.4% 的样本引用了暴力事件。然而，22.0% 的受访者报告 9/11 是他们最糟糕的生活事件，即使他们没有直接经历过这些袭击。更多的终生暴露于暴力事件和丧亲之痛，比值比 ( OR s) = 0.79 和 0.72，分别为 0.79 和 0.72，大学教育，OR = 0.61，与将 9/11 列为一个人最糟糕的生活事件的几率降低有关。在袭击发生后的一周内观看 4 小时或更多与 9/11 相关的电视报道，OR = 1.67，并确定为非裔美国人，OR= 2.01，与将 9/11 命名为袭击发生 1 年后最糟糕的生活事件的几率增加有关。通过媒体间接经历的事件可能被认为是人们生活中最糟糕的事情，对于评估压力性生活事件历史和理解间接接触负面生活事件具有重要意义。