COVID-19 media fatigue: predictors of decreasing interest and avoidance of COVID-19-related news

Buneviciene, Inesa; Bunevicius, Romas; Bagdonas, Sarunas; Bunevicius, Adomas

Objectives COVID-19-related news is important for adherence to public health measures. We examined predictors of interest and avoidance of COVID-19 news in Lithuania. Study design Online survey. Methods An online survey was conducted in between October and December 2020 targeting the general population in Lithuania. Participants rated their interest and avoidance of news about the COVID-19 pandemic, with possible answers ranging from ‘completely agree’ to ‘completely disagree’. Participants were also evaluated for symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-8), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorders-7), post-traumatic stress (Impact of Events Scale Revised) and COVID-19 fear (COVID-19 Fears Questionnaires). Results In total, 1036 participants (83% women) completed the survey. Results indicated that 37% of participants were losing interest in COVID-19 news, 32% had started avoiding COVID-19 news and 26% had stopped following news about COVID-19. In the multivariate regression analyses, younger age, greater post-traumatic stress symptoms, less fear of COVID-19 and less frequent use of healthcare professionals for COVID-19 information were independent predictors of decreasing/diminished interest and avoidance of COVID-19 news (all p-values < 0.005). More frequent use of friends/relatives for COVID-19 information was associated with increasing avoidance and diminished interest in news about COVID-19, while more frequent use of internet news portals for COVID-19 information predicted decreasing/diminished interest in news about COVID-19, independently from other factors considered in this study. Conclusions Decreasing/diminished interest and avoidance of news about COVID-19 are common, and are associated with younger age, greater post-traumatic stress symptoms, less fear of COVID-19 and less frequent use of healthcare professionals for COVID-19 information.