Trauma Recovery in Victims of Crime: The Role of Television Viewing Motives and Television Exposure

Previous research has suggested that apart from being a consequence of psychological distress, television use may also have an impact on the evolution of distress symptoms. The present study tested this hypothesis in a sample of 224 crime victims. Subjects were interviewed 3, 6, and 9 months post-crime. The questionnaire measured multiple pre-, mid-, and post-trauma factors as well as television viewing motives and overall and selective exposure to television. The results of a linear mixed effects analyses indicate that with regard to television, viewing motives in particular have net effects that hamper or benefit the recovery process of crime victims. Implications for research dealing with uses and gratifications and both overall and selective exposure to television are discussed.