COVID-19-related media consumption and posttraumatic stress symptoms in U.S. military veterans: A nationally representative, longitudinal study

•Media consumption may increase stress symptoms during public health crises.•Link between COVID-19 media consumption and traumatic stress evaluated in veterans.•COVID-19 media consumption associated with greater posttraumatic stress symptoms.•Veterans with pre-existing PTSD were most vulnerable to high media consumption. To examine the association between COVID-19 media consumption and pandemic-related posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in U.S. veterans. A population-based sample of 3,074 U.S. veterans was surveyed prior to the pandemic (fall 2019) and a year later during the height of the pandemic (fall 2020). Greater COVID-19 media consumption was associated with pandemic-related PTSS, particularly in veterans with pre-existing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who were 79% more likely to report pandemic-related PTSS relative to veterans with PTSD who consumed less COVID-19 media. COVID-19 media consumption is independently linked to a greater likelihood of pandemic-related PTSS in U.S. veterans.