The Role of Media and Communication in Reducing Uncertainty During the Syria War

Ten years after the uprising in Syria, millions of its citizens remain displaced and uncertain about their fate. Throughout that period, media coverage ensuing civil war played a major role informing Syrians contributed to altering levels fear anxiety country’s future survival prospects. This study examined legacy media, online interpersonal communication increasing or reducing uncertainty among non-displaced Syrians. Through revised construct reduction theory within context war, we assessed relationship between exposure these sources feeling anxious, uncertain, angry, danger, whether feelings influenced information consumption trends. We also probed connection sharing information, both interpersonally on social media. The surveyed 2,192 Syrian adults (95% CI, ±2.5) living Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, inside outside refugee camps, using random multistage cluster sampling technique. findings revealed strong positive emotions time spent more secure, proud, hopeful people felt, likely they were spend sources. relationship, however, was moderated by perceived importance Feelings pride, security, hopefulness generated television correlated with sources, such further strengthened this relationship. A different picture appeared communication, where talking not only significantly but canceled out main effect communicating others. indicated may stand way