Abstract
Although research showed that media consumption during Covid-19 is related to preventive behaviours, we know less about why people turn to quality or alternative media in the first place. We focus on the role of different fears. More specifically, we assumed that fears focusing on health threats were positively associated with the consumption of quality media and negatively with the consumption of tabloids and alternative media. We expected the opposite pattern for fears focusing on economic and societal threats, and that media consumption mediated the relationship between fears and vaccination acceptance. A survey among a representative sample of Germans (N = 1080) showed that the fears correlated as expected positively with the consumption of the respective media type. However, the predicted negative relationships with the other media type often turned out as non-significant. The fears were differentially related to vaccination acceptance via media consumption, indicating the theoretical and practical value of differentiating between different types of fears.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
