Psychological Distress, Interpersonal Closeness and Discrimination following the Charlie Hebdo Attacks

Abstract

Terrorist attacks in January 2015 in Paris on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, and related incidents on subsequent days, left 17 dead and 22 injured. Reported as ‘the French 9/11’ these were portrayed by some as leading to national trauma across the country (1). Widespread indirect exposure via media coverage can amplify psychological distress and promote emotional responses well away from the ‘bulls-eye’ of any event, with media exposure following terrorist attacks more strongly associated with PTSD than direct exposure (2). Switching between multiple media outlets may be particularly taxing (3), as individuals are exposed to both traditional media and graphic content through social media. Shared social stresses may subsequently impact on personal relationships with close others, as well as members of potential out-groups. Terror management theories (4) suggest we seek intimacy and support from others to cope with personal threats. This then reduces existential distress by validating self-esteem and personal beliefs. In contrast, mortality threats can lead to the rejection of others who threaten or undermine our world views, leading to scapegoating and stigmatisation (5). We report data from a national survey exploring the association between media use, psychological distress, relational intimacy, and willingness to interact with Muslims four weeks after the attacks.