title: Media use, cancer knowledge and lifestyle choices: a cross-sectional analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both media use and cancer knowledge have been identified as important predictors of a healthy lifestyle. However, little is known about the interplay between these two variables, and about differences between cancer diagnosed and non-diagnosed consumers of media and knowledge. This study investigated the relationship between media use (television and internet exposure) and lifestyle choices of cancer diagnosed and non-diagnosed individuals, and looked at the influence of cancer knowledge on this relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, quantitative survey (the Leuven Cancer Information Survey) was administered to 621 cancer diagnosed and 1387 non-diagnosed individuals, aged 16-88 years old in Flanders (Belgium). Bivariate analyses, hierarchical linear regression analyses and advanced moderation and mediation analyses were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Internet exposure was not a predictor of lifestyle choices. Television exposure, however, was a negative predictor of healthy lifestyle choices. Moreover, television exposure was a direct negative predictor of cancer knowledge, which in turn positively predicted lifestyle choices. However, no differences were found in the investigated relationships between the two subsamples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that higher levels of television exposure coincide with less cancer knowledge and with less healthy lifestyle choices. It offers a pathway for intervention by suggesting that improving cancer knowledge through television might positively affect lifestyle choices.
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Social Sciences, Leuven School for Mass Communication Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium Sara.Nelissen@soc.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nelissen
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Social Sciences, Leuven School for Mass Communication Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium 2 Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO Vlaanderen), Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beullens
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Social Sciences, Leuven School for Mass Communication Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marijke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lemal
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Social Sciences, Leuven School for Mass Communication Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van den Bulck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001530:Belgium; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult