The Impact of Self-Absorption on Indirect Trauma: The Moderated Mediation Effect of Provocative Media Exposure to Social Disaster

This study examined the impact of self-absorption on vicarious trauma in the context of social disasters, focusing on the mediating role of provocative media exposure and the moderating role of safety control. A nationwide sample of 352 South Korean adults in their twenties completed a survey, and data were analyzed using PROCESS macro Model 14. Results showed that self-absorption was positively related to both provocative media exposure and vicarious trauma, with media exposure mediating this relationship. Individuals with higher self-absorption were more likely to engage with emotionally charged media content, heightening vulnerability to trauma-related symptoms. Safety control moderated this pathway: the effect of media exposure on vicarious trauma was weaker among participants with higher levels of safety control. Johnson–Neyman analysis further indicated that when safety control exceeded a threshold of 1.21, the influence of media exposure was no longer significant, underscoring its protective role as a cognitive resource. These findings clarify how personality traits and cognitive factors interact with media exposure to shape psychological vulnerability and highlight practical implications for interventions that enhance safety control to buffer the adverse effects of disaster-related media exposure. In practice, counseling and psychoeducation programs may incorporate cognitive reappraisal and self-regulation strategies to strengthen safety control and reduce vulnerability to vicarious trauma.