AUTHOR=Mejia Christian R. , Aveiro-Róbalo Telmo Raul , Garlisi Torales Luciana Daniela , Castro Hidalgo Verónica Alejandra Alejandra , Valeriano Jhino , Ibarra-Montenegro David Alfonso , Conde-Escobar Aram , Sánchez-Soto Fernanda , Canaviri-Murillo Yuliana , Oliva-Ponce María , Serna-Alarcón Victor , Vilela-Estrada Martín A. , Arias-Chávez Dennis 

TITLE=Latin American perceptions of fear and exaggeration transmitted by the media with regard to COVID-19: frequency and association with severe mental pathologies

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1037450

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1037450

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Introduction: This COVID-19 pandemic brought much misinformation by the media, which caused fear and concern. Objective: To determine the association between pathologies of the mental sphere and the perception of fear and exaggeration transmitted by the media with respect to COVID-19 in Latin America. Methodology: This is an analytic cross-sectional study, based on a validated survey to measure fear and exaggeration transmitted by the media and other sources (Cronbach’s Alpha: 0.90). We surveyed more than six thousand people, originally from twelve Latin American countries, associating this perceived exaggeration with stress, depression and anxiety (measured through DASS-21, Cronbach’s Alpha: 0.96). Results: Social networks (40%) or television (34%) were perceived as those who exaggerate the magnitude of the events; also, television (35%) and social networks (28%) are those who generate much fear. In contrast, physicians and health personnel are those who exaggerated less (10%) or provoked less fear (14%). Through multivariate model, we found a higher level of global perception which was associated according to whether being older (p=0,002), having severe or more serious anxiety (p=0,033), or stress (p=0,037). On the other hand, in comparison with Peru (the most affected country), there was a lower level of perception in Chile (p<0,001), Paraguay (p=0,001), Mexico (p<0,001), Ecuador (p=0,001), and Costa Rica (p=0,042). All of them were adjusted for gender, and having severe or major depression. Conclusion: There exist an association between some mental pathologies and the perception that the media does not provide moderate information.