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Terrorism Media Effects in Youth Exposed to Chronic Threat and Conflict in Israel

  • Child and Family Disaster Psychiatry (B Pfefferbaum, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Psychiatry Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This paper reviews the extant research on the effects of contact with terrorism media coverage on psychological outcomes in youth in the context of chronic threat and conflict in Israel.

Recent Findings

The extant research is inconclusive with respect to the relationship between media contact and a variety of psychological outcomes in Israeli studies of youth exposed to ongoing threat and repeated terrorist attacks.

Summary

Additional research is needed to examine potential differences in outcomes and the factors that influence youth coping and adaptation in an environment of chronic threat and extensive media coverage. Moreover, studies are needed to identify and evaluate potential parental, professional, and social strategies to enhance youth adjustment. Because political conflict in Israel is not likely to abate in the near future, the setting is ideal to conduct methodologically rigorous research including research using representative samples, prospective reporting, and longitudinal design.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgments

The editors would like to thank Dr. Orna Braun-Lewensohn for taking the time to review this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Betty Pfefferbaum.

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Betty Pfefferbaum is a section editor for Current Psychiatry Reports.

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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This article does not report new data in studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Child and Family Disaster Psychiatry

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Pfefferbaum, B., Tucker, P., Newman, E. et al. Terrorism Media Effects in Youth Exposed to Chronic Threat and Conflict in Israel. Curr Psychiatry Rep 21, 28 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1005-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1005-4

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