Civil War in Syria: the psychological effects on journalists
| Date | 12 January 2015 |
| Published date | 12 January 2015 |
| Pages | 57-64 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-04-2014-0119 |
| Author | Anthony Feinstein,Stephen Starr |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Aggression, conflict & peace |
Civil War in Syria: the psychological effects
on journalists
Anthony Feinstein and Stephen Starr
Anthony Feinstein is a
Professor, based at
Department of Psychiatry,
Sunnybrook Health Sciences
Centre, Toronto, Canada and
The University of Toronto,
Toronto, Canada.
Stephen Starr is a Fellow,
based at Munk School,
University of Toronto, Toronto,
Canada.
Abstract
Purpose – More journalists died in Syria during 2013 than in any other country experiencing conflict. This
statistic raises concerns about the psychological wellbeing of journalists covering the internecine violence.
The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach – The study sample was made up of 59 western journalists currently
covering the Syrian conflict. To place these results in the broader context of war journalism previously
collected data from a group of 84 journalists who had reported the war in Iraq were used as a control
sample. Outcome measures included indices of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Impact of Event
Scale-revised) and psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire-28 item version (GHQ-28)).
Findings – Compared to journalists who covered the Iraq war, the journalists working in Syria were more
likely to be female (p ¼0.007), single (p ¼0.018), freelance (p¼0.0001) and had worked fewer years as a
journalist (p ¼0.012). They were moredepressed according to the GHQ-28 (p ¼0.001) and endorsed more
individual symptoms of depression including worthlessness (p ¼0.012), helplessness (p ¼0.02) and
suicidal intent (p ¼0.003). A linear regression analysis revealed that the group differences in depression data
could not be accounted for by demographic factors.
Research limitations/implications – An absence of structured interviews. Results not applicable to local
Syrian journalists.
Practical implications – Western journalists covering Syrian appear to be particularly vulnerable to the
development of depression. Journalists and the news organizations that employ them need to be cognizant
of data such as these. Given that depression is treatable, there needs to be a mechanism in place to detect
and treat those in need.
Originality/value – This is the first study that highlights the emotional toll on western journalists covering
the Syrian conflict.
Keywords Syria, War, Emotional health, Journalism, Psychological wellbeing,
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The civil war in Syria has claimed over 100,000 lives thus far. The level of violence made the
country the most dangerous for journalists in 2013, with 29 killed, many more wounded and an
undisclosed number kidnapped (Committee to Protect Journalists, 2013). While local
journalists have paid the highest price, the war has taken the lives of many foreign journalists
too, including one of the finest correspondents of her generation, Marie Colvin, killed in Holms in
a mortar attack that also claimed the French photojournalist Remi Ochlik.
Notwithstanding the dangers confronted by war journalists, there is a surprisingly small literature
devoted to the profession’s psychological wellbeing. This contrasts with a burgeoning trauma
literature encompassing veterans, police, firefighters, and victims of assault, rape, and motor
vehicle accidents, among others (Javidi and Yadollahie,2012). Reasons for this relevant neglect
are complex and thought to include managerial indifference, the macho culture of frontline
journalism, the cultivated persona of the war journalist and a belief, held until recently, that
DOI 10.1108/JACPR-04-2014-0119 VOL. 7 NO. 1 2015, pp. 57-64, CEmerald Group PublishingLimited, ISSN 1759-6599
j
JOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, CONFLICT AND PEACE RESEARCH
j
PAGE 57
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