Disaster at a Distance: Impact of 9.11.01 Televised News Coverage on Mothers’ and Children’s Health

• 2004

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• Christine Kennedy; Annemarie Charlesworth; Jyu-Lin Chen
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2004.09.003

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About

This article explores how watching news about the 9/11 attacks affected mothers and their children. It describes that even though these families were not near the disaster, seeing it on TV caused stress and health issues. Mothers who watched more coverage felt more anxious, which also impacted their children's well-being. The study highlights how media can influence people's emotions and health, even from far away events. It suggests that limiting exposure to distressing news might help reduce anxiety in both parents and kids during such crises.

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Tags

Focus Areas: Mental Health; Trauma

Audiences: Behavioral Health Professionals; Public Health Professionals

Emergency Management Stage: Recovery

Keywords: Child Behavior; Child Behavior Disorders; Child Health; Psychology, Child; Disasters; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers; Risk Factors; Social Support; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress, Psychological; Television; News; Adaptation, Psychological; September 11 Terrorist Attacks

Institutions: University of California San Francisco

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