Do potentially traumatic events experienced by people in one's social circle affect one's own mental health and emotional support? Findings from a prospective population-based study

• Individuals in one's social circle may be hit by potentially traumatic events (PTEs). • Their impact on one's own mental health and support is unclear. • Impact was assessed among male and females, themselves affected by PTEs or not. • Bivariate associations showed negative effects across sex and PTE subgroups. • When controlling for pre-existing problems effects appeared to be limited and small.