Consumption of negative media content mediates the association between levels of trauma exposure and insomnia severity in Hispanic young adults

Abstract

Research has shown that individuals who have experienced traumatic events are at greater risk of developing severe insomnia than those without trauma. Further, according to the stress sensitization hypothesis, victims of multiple traumas, compared to those who have experienced a single trauma, are particularly vulnerable to severe insomnia. One potential mechanism underlying the association between trauma experiences and insomnia is media exposure. Although avoidance behaviors are symptoms of posttraumatic stress, victims of traumas also demonstrate attentional bias toward threats and difficulty disengaging attention from threats. These cognitive tendencies may result in heightened vigilance to negative media content, particularly trauma-related content, leading to insomnia. The current study examined a mediation model in which trauma history (multiple traumas, single trauma, and no trauma) was the predictor, media exposure variables were the mediators, and insomnia was the outcome. Participants were predominantly Hispanic college students consisting of 116 victims of multiple traumas, 202 victims of a single trauma, and 378 individuals with no trauma. The multiple traumas group reported significantly elevated insomnia symptoms and more frequent viewing of trauma-related media content than the single trauma group and no trauma group. Trauma-related media content partially but significantly mediated the association between each group membership and insomnia. These findings highlight the need for assessment and interventions for media use when treating insomnia in trauma victims, particularly those with multiple trauma experiences.