The psychological impact of negative TV news bulletins: The catastrophizing of personal worries

Author(s): Davey, G. C. L.

Journal/Book: Brit J Psychol. 1997; 88: St Andrews House, 48 Princess Rd East, Leicester, Leics, England LE1 7DR. British Psychological Soc. 85-91.

Abstract: This study investigated the effect of the emotional content of television news programmes on mood stare and the catastrophizing of personal worries. Three groups were shown 14-min TV news bulletins that were edited to display either positive-, neutral- or negative-valenced material. Participants who watched the negatively valenced bulletin showed increases in both anxious and sad mood, and also showed a significant increase in the tendency to catastrophize a personal worry. The results are consistent with those theories of worry that implicate negative mood as a causal factor in facilitating worrisome thought. They also suggest that negatively valenced TV news programmes can exacerbate a range of personal concerns that are not specifically relevant to the content of the programme.

Note: Article Davey GCL, Univ Sussex, Sch Cognit & Comp Sci, Psychol Grp, Brighton BN1 9QH, E Sussex, ENGLAND

Keyword(s): ANXIETY; EMOTION; STATES; THOUGHTS

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