The News

A small new study found that negative news stories may increase sensitivity to stressful situations later in the day.

 Researchers found that negative news stories about murders or accidents made people more reactive to stressful situations that occurred later that day. Those who were asked to read neutral stories about movie or park openings did not show the same heightened reactions.
Some psychologists say that we’re drawn to negative news stories because we believe that they warn us about potential risks, allowing us to protect ourselves from danger. This may also explain why such news can stress us out; it may put us on high alert, so that we’re more likely to view a difficult situation as threatening.