TY - JOUR PY - 2019// TI - Mass media as alcohol educator for everyone? Effects of portrayed alcohol consequences and the influence of viewers' characteristics JO - Media psychology A1 - Naderer, Brigitte A1 - Mayrhofer, Mira SP - 217 EP - 243 VL - 22 IS - 2 N2 - Many correlative and experimental studies indicate that the portrayal of alcohol in the mass media impacts viewers' alcohol expectancies, attitudes, and behaviors. Based on social cognitive theory, the portrayed consequences and the valence of the character experiencing these consequences are important to consider when investigating the portrayal of alcohol in the mass media. However, experimental studies manipulating character valence and consequences are scarce. This study presents an experimental examination of an adult sample, manipulating the occurrence of consequences (no consequences, positive consequences, and negative consequences), as well as character valence (a positive or negative character). We investigated the effects of media portrayals on positive and negative alcohol expectancies, as well as on attitudes toward alcohol. Furthermore, the moderating role of participants' level of alcohol consumption was considered. We found main effects only on the negative alcohol expectancies, supporting the differentiation of alcohol expectancies and attitudes. However, the valence of the depicted character did not moderate the impact of the portrayed consequences. Interaction effects of participants' individual levels of alcohol consumption and portrayals of consequences of alcohol consumption in the mass media were uncovered. This finding has important implications for further research and prevention efforts directed at risk groups.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 1521-3269 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2017.1378112 ID - ref1 ER -