Abstract

Objectives

This study investigated how COVID-19-related media exposure during the COVID-19 crisis was related to same-day and next-day COVID-19-related worries.

Design

A 21-day diary study was conducted between late March and late April 2020 in Germany.

Main Outcome Measures

Hypotheses were tested in a sample of 561 participants (M_age = 42.79, SD_age = 6.12). Every evening, participants indicated their exposure to COVID-19-related media (e.g., TV, print, online) and their COVID-19-related worries.

Results

Same-day analyses showed that participants reported more COVID-19-related worries on days with higher exposure to COVID-19-related media. Dynamical structural equation models provided evidence for a reciprocal cycle across days: Higher media exposure at one day predicted higher worries the next day, and higher worries at one day also predicted higher media exposure the next day. Individuals with high trait anxiety reported an enhanced general level of media exposure during the 21 days of assessment, and individuals high in neuroticism and anxiety reported an enhanced level of worries.

Conclusion

These findings suggest a self-reinforcing cycle whereby consuming crisis-related media and worrying reciprocally influence each other across days, possibly amplifying adverse effects of the COVID-19 crisis and other crises alike on mental and physical health.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 大流行期间与 COVID-19 相关的媒体曝光与担忧之间的动态关系

摘要

目标

本研究调查了 COVID-19 危机期间与 COVID-19 相关的媒体曝光与当天和次日与 COVID-19 相关的担忧之间的关系。

设计

2020 年 3 月下旬至 4 月下旬在德国进行了一项为期 21 天的日记研究。

主要观察指标

假设在 561 名参与者的样本中进行了测试（M_年龄= 42.79，SD_年龄= 6.12）。每天晚上，参与者都表示他们接触过与 COVID-19 相关的媒体（例如，电视、印刷、在线）以及他们对 COVID-19 相关的担忧。

结果

同日分析显示，参与者在更多接触 COVID-19 相关媒体的日子里报告了更多与 COVID-19 相关的担忧。动态结构方程模型为跨天的倒数循环提供了证据：一天的媒体曝光率越高，第二天的担忧就越多，而一天的担忧越多，第二天的媒体曝光率也越高。在 21 天的评估过程中，具有高度特质焦虑的人报告的媒体曝光程度普遍提高，而神经质和焦虑程度高的人报告的担忧程度更高。

结论

这些发现表明了一个自我强化的循环，即消费与危机相关的媒体和担忧在几天内相互影响，可能会放大 COVID-19 危机和其他危机对身心健康的不利影响。