Media exposure, risk perceptions, and fear: Americans' behavioral responses to the Ebola public health crisis.

ABSTRACT: We examined media exposure, psychological fear and worry, perceptions of risk, and health protective behaviors surrounding the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak in a probability-based, representative, national sample of Americans (N = 3447). Structural equation models examined relationships between amount (hours/day) and content (e.g., graphic images of dead bodies) of media exposure and counts of self-reported health protective behaviors that participants performed or would perform if Ebola spread to their community. Ebola-related risk perceptions and fear and worry were potential mediators. Greater total hours and more graphic media exposure positively correlated with more fear and worry; greater total hours of media exposure also positively correlated with higher perceived risk. Higher risk per

SUBMITTER: Garfin DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10237114 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature