Whether we like it or not, the media is a constant source of stress. According to Thompson, this stress can lead to poor psychological outcomes. This was the case when Hurricane Irma was heavily sensationalized and covered by the media. The bad news, however, can have good effects, too. While these articles don’t claim to be scientific, they do suggest some interesting points.
Time spent getting the news
Time spent with the news varies widely by age. Younger people spend far less time on the news than older adults. On average, they spend only 66 minutes each day getting news. However, older adults spend significantly more time on the news, averaging about eight hours per day. The average amount of time spent on the news varies wildly by age, too. Even though many Americans watch or listen to the news in the morning, young people spend much less time on it.
Some studies suggest that negative news can elevate your heart rate and have a negative impact on your health. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that people with high stress levels after the events of 9/11 were nearly five times more likely to develop cardiovascular problems in the next three years – independent of their previous health history. The study also found a direct correlation between 9/11 coverage and cardiovascular problems years later. So while the news may not be harmful to our health, it is important to know how it affects our daily lives.
Effects of exposure on affect
Studies have shown that exposure to the negative news can negatively affect people, but not everyone is affected equally by it. Individual differences in cognition may be a factor in predicting the effect of news exposure on affective states. Psychologists have also found that people with certain personality traits and neuroticism experience dissimilar affective reactions to stressors. This suggests that our emotional responses to the news may depend on our personality traits, not just the content of the news, sneak a peek at this site.
We are exposed to toxic chemicals in various ways, including the ingestion of food and drink. Some of these substances can accumulate in our bodies for years, causing a number of long-term health effects. Chemical exposure can also come from household products. These chemicals leech into the environment and can contaminate groundwater and wells near your home. If you work in an environment that has chemicals in it, you may be exposed to the substances for years.
Interactions Between News Valence and Personal Relevance
This study explored how people make judgments about the valence and personal relevance of news. We used the cognitive appraisal theory to describe how news affects our emotional state. In this theory, when we experience a news event, we perform a primary appraisal, assessing the importance, severity, and relevance of the news. Our affective responses depend primarily on the valence of the news, although personal relevance may also play a role.
Conclusion:
While news valence was associated with negative affect, it was not found that news personal relevance moderated the effect. Personal relevance was negatively associated with negative affect, but the interaction effect showed that the two effects strengthened each other. Neuroticism was found to be a strong predictor of negative affect, but neuroticism did not moderate the effect. Extraversion, on the other hand, had no effect on the effect of news valence.