Teens' attention to crime and emergency programs on television as a predictor and mediator of increased risk perceptions regarding alcohol-related injuries.
This study examined the hypotheses that media exposure and attention would predict, and partially mediate, the effects of various individual-difference variables on alcohol-related risk perceptions among teen viewers of crime and emergency (e.g., medical drama) shows on television. Risk perceptions including perceived severity, perceived alcohol-attributable fraction of incidents involving alcohol, controllability, and concern regarding alcohol-related crime, assaults, and other injuries were the outcome measures. Attention to crime and emergency shows was predictive of increased concern and other risk perceptions regarding alcohol-related incidents. Attention also partially mediated the effects of demographic and other individual difference variables on adolescents' risk perceptions regarding alcohol-related injuries. The findings (a) suggest emergency and medical drama television narratives can at times have incidental positive impacts on health-related attitudes and (b) provide further evidence regarding the endogenous nature of media use variables in influencing such attitudes.
School of Communication, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-1339, USA.
Michael D
MD
Slater
Parul
P
Jain
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D012306:Risk; D012938:Social Perception; D013690:Television; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology
Health Commun. 2007;22(2):143-51
17668994
J Pers Soc Psychol. 2000 Nov;79(5):701-21
11079236
Women Health. 1993;20(1):87-97
8493801
J Adolesc Health. 2005 Jul;37(1):29-36
15963904
Pediatrics. 2006 Nov;118(5):1932-42
17079564
Health Commun. 2008 Sep;23(5):403-12
18850388
Pediatrics. 2006 Apr;117(4):1018-27
16585295
J Drug Educ. 2006;36(3):247-70
17345917
Health Aff (Millwood). 2001 Jan-Feb;20(1):192-9
11194841
J Health Commun. 2007 Sep;12(6):551-66
17763052
Risk Anal. 1998 Dec;18(6):805-11
9972583
Prev Sci. 2001 Mar;2(1):29-43
11519373
Behav Res Methods. 2008 Aug;40(3):879-91
18697684
J Adolesc Health. 2007 Jun;40(6):527-34
17531759
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007 Sep;161(9):849-56
17768284
Health Psychol. 2009 Jul;28(4):473-83
19594272
Lancet. 2003 Jul 26;362(9380):281-5
12892958
Future Child. 2008 Spring;18(1):11-37
21338004
Media Psychol. 2008 Oct 1;11(4):443-461
20376301
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986 Dec;51(6):1173-82
3806354
J Health Commun. 2000;5 Suppl:81-100
11010359
Health Commun. 2007;21(1):1-9
17461747
Ann Behav Med. 2007 Jun;33(3):221-35
17600449
J Stud Alcohol. 2006 Jan;67(1):54-65
16536129
Health Commun. 2009 Jun;24(4):295-303
19499423
Health Commun. 2003;15(3):277-98
12788675
J Health Commun. 2003 Mar-Apr;8(2):157-69
12746039
Pediatrics. 2004 Sep;114(3):e280-9
15342887
Monogr Soc Res Child Dev. 2001;66(1):I-VIII, 1-147
11326591