Terrorist alarms can be harmful to health

Bioterrorism warnings to help citizens' safety actually damage their health, US researchers said.

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the US government and the mass media sometimes warned Americans about the possibility of terrorist attacks. A group of researchers at Yeshiva University in New York found such messages increased the level of concern for the population and the loss of health.

(Photo: iStockphoto, VNE) "If a public health program causes anxiety and stress in the population, it will be judged to be a reverse effect and need to be revised" , the author research Hillel Cohen said.

Cohen and colleagues conducted research on students at Yeshiva. 116 participants were divided into 2 groups. One group heard a message depicting a horrific bioterrorism case, while another group received a more harmonious message, describing bioterrorism as a threat that was less relevant. Other health hazards.

The team assessed people's anxiety level when receiving the message, pessimistic level and general knowledge of people about biological weapons."We see a significant increase in anxiety levels in the first group compared to the second group," Cohen said.

"Alarms and warnings to increase people's vigilance. It is not surprising that these warnings also aggravate the level of anxiety and stress," Cohen said. "Before making an alarm, it is necessary to assess its effectiveness and safety so that it can both strengthen people's vigilance without increasing the level of anxiety and fear."

MT