The influence of daily traumas among Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot journalists residing in a divided and conflicted environment

Abstract

The world has faced a series of challenges, starting with the COVID-19 crisis and followed by economic downturns. Among these significant issues, daily occurrences of crimes, rape and natural disasters continue to unfold. These crises have mainly influenced journalists due to the high nature of their profession. This study investigated the psychological influence of daily crises on media workers, their coping strategies, their distress tolerance and how these variables influence one another. It also aimed to understand whether there is any difference between the two communities working in northern and southern Cyprus, a divided European country. One hundred and six journalists participated in the study, with 69 Turkish Cypriots and 37 Greek Cypriots. Results showed that both community journalists face traumatic emotions, have a low level of distress tolerance and utilise some adaptive coping strategies. Based on the psychological conditions that influence media professionals' approaches to news coverage in fostering or hindering peacebuilding efforts, it is vital to examine the influence of daily crises in divided and conflicted societies.