Unseen Battles: The Impact of War Media Exposure on Stress, Anxiety and Persistent Thinking Among Elderly Community Dwellers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Older adults are the most susceptible group to distressing and traumatic effects from the media content; they are at a higher risk for adverse psychological effects from exposure to war-related media. However, no attention has been given to clarifying the association between war media exposure and such psychological outcomes. Investigate the impact of war media exposure on stress, anxiety and persistent thinking among elderly community dwellers. A cross-sectional correlational descriptive study was conducted on a convenience sample of 400 elderly community dwellers selected from multiple community settings. Five tools were used: demographic and clinical data of elderly community dwellers, the Arabic version of the War-Related Media Exposure Scale, War-Related Stress Scale, War Anxiety Scale and War-Related Persistent Thinking Scale. Results indicated noticeable exposure to war-related media, with most participants reporting moderate levels of stress and anxiety, as well as mild persistent thoughts. War media exposure was a significant predictor of stress (β = 0.462), anxiety (β = 0.385) and persistent thinking (β = 0.768). Demographic factors such as sex, age, education and living conditions also influenced psychological outcomes, with males, younger elderly, and those with higher education reporting higher distress levels. The findings highlight the vulnerability of older adults to the psychological effects of war media exposure, emphasising the need for targeted interventions to mitigate these impacts. This study underscores the importance of addressing media-related mental health challenges in elderly populations, particularly in regions affected by ongoing conflicts. This study found that exposure to war media significantly predicted higher levels of stress, anxiety and intrusive thoughts among older adults. Demographic factors also contributed to psychological vulnerability, emphasising the need for tailored nursing interventions in community settings.