Associations between COVID-19 related media consumption and symptoms of anxiety, depression and COVID-19 related fear in the general population in Germany

In context of the current COVID-19 pandemic the consumption of pandemic-related media coverage may be an important factor that is associated with anxiety and psychological distress. Aim of the study was to examine those associations in the general population in Germany. 6233 participants took part i...

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Published inEuropean archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience Vol. 271; no. 2; pp. 283 - 291
Main Authors Bendau, Antonia, Petzold, Moritz Bruno, Pyrkosch, Lena, Mascarell Maricic, Lea, Betzler, Felix, Rogoll, Janina, Große, Julia, Ströhle, Andreas, Plag, Jens
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.03.2021
Springer Nature B.V
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ISSN0940-1334
1433-8491
1433-8491
DOI10.1007/s00406-020-01171-6

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Summary:In context of the current COVID-19 pandemic the consumption of pandemic-related media coverage may be an important factor that is associated with anxiety and psychological distress. Aim of the study was to examine those associations in the general population in Germany. 6233 participants took part in an online-survey (March 27th–April 6th, 2020), which included demographic information and media exploitation in terms of duration, frequency and types of media. Symptoms of depression, unspecific anxiety and COVID-19 related anxiety were ascertained with standardized questionnaires. Frequency, duration and diversity of media exposure were positively associated with more symptoms of depression and unspecific and COVID-19 specific anxiety. We obtained the critical threshold of seven times per day and 2.5 h of media exposure to mark the difference between mild and moderate symptoms of (un)specific anxiety and depression. Particularly the usage of social media was associated with more pronounced psychological strain. Participants with pre-existing fears seem to be particularly vulnerable for mental distress related to more immoderate media consumption. Our findings provide some evidence for problematical associations of COVID-19 related media exposure with psychological strain and could serve as an orientation for recommendations—especially with regard to the thresholds of critical media usage.
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Communicated by Andrea Schmitt.
ISSN:0940-1334
1433-8491
1433-8491
DOI:10.1007/s00406-020-01171-6