The Impact of Media Exposure to Gaza Genocide on Beliefs, Emotions and Intended Actions of Young Adults of Pakistan

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the relationship among media exposure to Gaza genocide and beliefs, emotions and intended actions of young adults of Pakistan. Cross-sectional survey design was selected. The present study was conducted online over five months from September 2025 to January 2026. A total of 365 students (108 male, 257 female) enrolled in different universities of Pakistan were included through purposive sampling. Data were collected through Demographic questionnaire, War Related Media Exposure Scale, Belief in Just World Scale, Affective Empathy Scale and Activism-Radicalism Intention. Data were analysed using the statistical software SPSS 27. Significant positive association was found between media exposure to Gaza genocide and activism and radicalism intentions. Personal as well as general belief in just world reported to be negatively related to empathy. Activism intention showed meaningful positive association with empathy. On the contrary, radicalism intention exhibited negative relation with empathy. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that media exposure to Gaza genocide, belief in just world and affective empathy are significant predictors of activism and radicalism intentions. Media exposure to war related content such as that of Gaza genocide is related to intended actions such as protest and boycott among young adults. The findings also highlight the significant role of empathy in shaping intentions for actions toward international humanitarian crises. These findings can be used in developing psychological support and structured activism programs (fundraising, awareness drives, humanitarian aid) to help young individuals regulate their media exposure and to provide safe outlets for empathy and outrage and manage emotional distress.