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Media use by children and adolescents from New York City 6 months after the WTC attack
Author(s) -
Duarte Cristiane S.,
Wu Ping,
Cheung Anna,
Mandell Donald J.,
Fan Bin,
Wicks Judith,
Musa George J.,
Hoven Christina W.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.20687
Subject(s) - world trade center , medicine , psychiatry , psychology , terrorism , geography , archaeology
Abstract Six months after the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), a representative sample of New York City students ( N = 8,236) in Grades 4 through 12 reported their use of TV, Web, and combined radio and print media regarding the WTC attack. Demographic factors, WTC exposure, other exposure to trauma, and probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were used to predict intensive use of the 3 types of media. Intensive use was associated with direct exposure to the WTC attack (with the exception of Web use) and to having reported symptoms of PTSD. Stratified analyses indicated that the association between probable PTSD and intensive media use was more consistently present among those who had no direct or familial exposure to the WTC attack. As well, media, particularly TV, was intensively used by children after the WTC attack. Variations existed in the factors associated with intensive media use, which should be considered when planning postdisaster media coverage and advising families.