Caregiver-Reports of Internet Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Among Boston-Area Youth Following the 2013 Marathon Bombing

Abstract

ABSTRACTAlthough practitioners and researchers have considered children’s television-based terrorism exposure, Internet-based exposure has not been sufficiently examined. We examined the scope and correlates of children’s Internet-based exposure following the Boston Marathon bombing among Boston-area youth (N = 460; 4–19 years), and the potential moderating role of age. Further exploratory analyses examined patterns of caregiver attempts to regulate child Internet exposure. Caregivers reported on child Internet-based and direct exposure to traumatic bombing-related events, and youth posttraumatic stress. Online youth consumed on average more than 2 daily hr of Internet coverage, and roughly one third consumed more than 3 daily hr of coverage. Internet exposure was particularly high among children older than 12. Greater Internet-based exposure was associated with posttraumatic stress, and 12- to 15-year-olds were particularly vulnerable. Further exploratory analyses found that although most caregivers reported believing media exposure can cause children further trauma, a considerable proportion of caregivers made no attempt to restrict or regulate their child’s Internet-based exposure. These findings help practitioners clarify forms of indirect exposure that can place youth at risk following terrorism. Future work is needed to examine the important roles that caregivers play as media regulators and as promoters of child coping and media literacy following terrorism.