Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A January 2014 PMID 24324161

Media's role in broadcasting acute stress following the Boston Marathon bombings.

E Alison Holman, Dana Rose Garfin, Roxane Cohen Silver

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions demonstrate a strong focus on the counterintuitive results that media exposure can cause more stress than direct experience, with words like 'eye-opening' and phrases such as 'media’s role in broadcasting acute stress' emphasizing recognition of media's psychological influence. Conversation tones range from curiosity to concern, underscoring the perceived importance of understanding how media shapes emotional responses after traumatic events.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions concur with the study’s findings that extensive media exposure can heighten stress, reflecting a general agreement with the article's conclusions.

InterestHigh interest

Participants show high interest, with many sharing detailed reactions and referencing specific aspects of the research, such as the counterintuitive stress levels linked to media consumption.

EngagementModerate engagement

The conversations indicate moderate engagement, with several users referencing the study, quoting findings, or questioning the psychological mechanisms involved.

ImpactModerate impact

While some discussions highlight the significance of the findings in understanding media effects on collective trauma, there is less evidence of profound influence on broader public discourse yet.

Abstract in brief

The study compared how media exposure and direct experience affected acute stress after the Boston Marathon bombings, finding that extensive media exposure (more than six hours a day) was linked to higher stress levels than direct exposure.
Even after accounting for previous mental health and media habits, those who watched more bombing-related media showed more stress, and past exposure to similar traumatic events increased vulnerability.
The findings suggest that mass media can amplify the negative emotional impact of collective trauma, spreading stress beyond the directly affected communities.

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Andrew Martin

@andrewmartin.bsky.social · Bluesky

Such an interesting study. >> People who consumed lots of media in the week after the Boston Marathon bombings experienced higher acute stress than people with **direct exposure** to the bombings pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24324161/

Sep 14, 2025 · 1 like · 1 share View post →

Boris Svetiev

@svetiev · X

Mar 22, 2025 · 1 like · 358 followers View post →

Thomas Parker PhD

@SaysSimon · X

Media’s role in broadcasting acute stress following the Boston Marathon bombings | PNAS https://t.co/Bjwu71u8ri

Mar 21, 2025 · 573 followers View post →

Bonnie

@CarolineMa7414 · X

Stop checking the news Eye-opening study: People who watched 6 hours of Boston Marathon attack coverage were more stressed at a later marathon than those who actually ran the bombed Boston Marathon at the same later marathon. Source https://t.co/1DfqPcUh0g

Sep 23, 2024 · 2 followers View post →

Angel Azrael

@SteviePoker · X

Aug 24, 2024 · 1 like · 2,066 followers View post →