Negative and positive perceptions of media sources and PTSD symptoms among older adults exposed to missile attacks

This study examined the relationship between negative and positive perceptions of media sources during wartime and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among older adults with varying levels of physical functioning. We examined perception of media sources as stressful or helpful, PTSD symptoms and physical functioning among 170 older adults (mean age = 66.87) four months after the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict. After controlling for previous PTSD symptoms, the number of media sources perceived as stressful was positively related to PTSD symptoms, particularly among respondents with low physical functioning. The number of helpful media sources was unrelated to PTSD symptoms. The findings suggest that stressful media is especially maladaptive for older adults with low physical functioning, who are at a higher risk of being homebound. Moreover, favorable perception of media was not beneficial for older adults in the specific context of PTSD symptoms. Helping older adults regulate their perceptions regarding the media may restrict their negative outcomes.