Trust in Science, Perceived Media Exaggeration About COVID-19, and Social Distancing Behavior

For many individuals, the media function as a primary source of information about preventative measures to combat COVID-19. However, a considerable number of citizens believe that the media coverage about pandemics is exaggerated. Although the perception of media exaggeration may be highly consequen...

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Autores principales:	Ariadne Neureiter, Marlis Stubenvoll, Ruta Kaskeleviciute, Jörg Matthes
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Frontiers Media S.A. 2021
Materias:	perceived media exaggeration about COVID-19 trust in science social distancing behavior panel study COVID-19 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/4023e78f6b3d486ea23b40bba32efb5f
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:4023e78f6b3d486ea23b40bba32efb5f2021-12-01T21:37:24ZTrust in Science, Perceived Media Exaggeration About COVID-19, and Social Distancing Behavior2296-256510.3389/fpubh.2021.670485https://doaj.org/article/4023e78f6b3d486ea23b40bba32efb5f2021-12-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.670485/fullhttps://doaj.org/toc/2296-2565For many individuals, the media function as a primary source of information about preventative measures to combat COVID-19. However, a considerable number of citizens believe that the media coverage about pandemics is exaggerated. Although the perception of media exaggeration may be highly consequential for individual health behaviors, we lack research on the drivers and consequences of this perception. In a two-wave panel study, we examined associations between trust in science, perceptions of media exaggeration about COVID-19, and social distancing behavior during the lockdown in Austria (NT2 = 416). Results showed that trust in science at T1 led to less perceptions of media exaggeration about COVID-19 at T2. Furthermore, consistent with the theory of psychological reactance, perceptions of media exaggeration about COVID-19 at T1 caused less social distancing behavior at T2. Thus, findings suggest that trust in science may positively affect individuals' social distancing behavior by decreasing perceived media exaggeration about COVID-19 over time. Implications for research on media effects in times of COVID-19 and conclusions for journalists are discussed.Ariadne NeureiterMarlis StubenvollRuta KaskeleviciuteJörg MatthesFrontiers Media S.A.articleperceived media exaggeration about COVID-19trust in sciencesocial distancing behaviorpanel studyCOVID-19Public aspects of medicineRA1-1270ENFrontiers in Public Health, Vol 9 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	perceived media exaggeration about COVID-19 trust in science social distancing behavior panel study COVID-19 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
spellingShingle	perceived media exaggeration about COVID-19 trust in science social distancing behavior panel study COVID-19 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Ariadne Neureiter Marlis Stubenvoll Ruta Kaskeleviciute Jörg Matthes Trust in Science, Perceived Media Exaggeration About COVID-19, and Social Distancing Behavior
description	For many individuals, the media function as a primary source of information about preventative measures to combat COVID-19. However, a considerable number of citizens believe that the media coverage about pandemics is exaggerated. Although the perception of media exaggeration may be highly consequential for individual health behaviors, we lack research on the drivers and consequences of this perception. In a two-wave panel study, we examined associations between trust in science, perceptions of media exaggeration about COVID-19, and social distancing behavior during the lockdown in Austria (NT2 = 416). Results showed that trust in science at T1 led to less perceptions of media exaggeration about COVID-19 at T2. Furthermore, consistent with the theory of psychological reactance, perceptions of media exaggeration about COVID-19 at T1 caused less social distancing behavior at T2. Thus, findings suggest that trust in science may positively affect individuals' social distancing behavior by decreasing perceived media exaggeration about COVID-19 over time. Implications for research on media effects in times of COVID-19 and conclusions for journalists are discussed.
format	article
author	Ariadne Neureiter Marlis Stubenvoll Ruta Kaskeleviciute Jörg Matthes
author_facet	Ariadne Neureiter Marlis Stubenvoll Ruta Kaskeleviciute Jörg Matthes
author_sort	Ariadne Neureiter
title	Trust in Science, Perceived Media Exaggeration About COVID-19, and Social Distancing Behavior
title_short	Trust in Science, Perceived Media Exaggeration About COVID-19, and Social Distancing Behavior
title_full	Trust in Science, Perceived Media Exaggeration About COVID-19, and Social Distancing Behavior
title_fullStr	Trust in Science, Perceived Media Exaggeration About COVID-19, and Social Distancing Behavior
title_full_unstemmed	Trust in Science, Perceived Media Exaggeration About COVID-19, and Social Distancing Behavior
title_sort	trust in science, perceived media exaggeration about covid-19, and social distancing behavior
publisher	Frontiers Media S.A.
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/4023e78f6b3d486ea23b40bba32efb5f
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Trust in Science, Perceived Media Exaggeration About COVID-19, and Social Distancing Behavior

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