Covering the tsunami disaster: subsequent post‐traumatic and depressive symptoms and associated social factors

Journalists frequently report on disasters. There is a growing evidence that they are subsequently at higher risk of post‐traumatic and depressive symptoms. We conducted an internet‐based study with 61 journalists who had covered the tsunami disaster in December 2004 from the affected region. The extent of trauma exposure, symptoms and social variables were assessed. About 8 months after the event, indications of post‐traumatic stress disorder were found in 6.6 per cent of the sample. Post‐traumatic and depressive symptoms were related to the extent of traumatic exposure and to several social variables, most importantly, a low degree of social acknowledgment by supervisor and colleagues.