Past traumas, religiosity, and current reactions when faced with media violence in a population of Lebanese university students

Abstract

Introduction: Nowadays, the virtual world and technology play an important role. The abundance of violence in the media could affect people’s well-being, especially for those who have previously experienced a traumatic event in the past.
Objective: In this study, we evaluate the impact of past traumas and religiosity on Lebanese university students’ reactions to media violence. More specifically, we evaluate the association between having experienced at least one traumatic event in the past and students’ current reactions when faced with media violence. Finally, we address the impact of religiosity on students’ reactions to media violence.
Method: The sample consists of 396 Lebanese university students, aged between 18 and 24 years old. The questionnaire consists of sociodemographic information, as well as a measure of the level of religiosity. It also contains a self-constructed violence measure that evaluates reactions of avoidance and confrontation when faced with violent information through the media.
Results: The association between the students’ reaction of avoidance (looking away, avoidance) and the presence of at least on trauma in the past is significant. This association is more significant when the violent information presenting itself in the media is similar to the traumatic event experienced in the past. Moreover, there exists an association between the reaction of avoidance and religiosity.
Conclusion: Past traumas have an impact on students’ reactions when exposed to media violence in the present moment. More specifically, past traumas foster avoidance behaviors. Avoidance is also associated with religiosity.