Public had increased need for information in the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, but in later stages there has been an increase in avoidance of news and news about COVID-19. The fourth pandemic wave was marked not only by news overload but also by psychological impact, and stress in individuals which was increased due to increased seismological activity. This master thesis sought to theoretically and empirically investigate, through cross-sectional survey research, the extent to which respondents in Croatia during the fourth pandemic wave avoided news and news about COVID-19 and how COVID-19 and earthquakes psychologically affected respondents. The theoretical part explained the avoidance of news in times of crisis and the difference between intentional and unintentional avoidance of news, experiencing stress and its connection with the media; and risk perception and strategies for dealing with the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the research show that younger respondents avoided news and news about COVID-19 more than the older ones. Younger respondents felt more overwhelmed with informations than older respondents, older respondents were less frightened than younger respondents, younger respondents were more vulnerable while older respondents highlighted their personal vulnerability and, finally, that both older and younger respondents took the necessary measures to cope with the pandemic.