Journal article
How Media Literacy and Science Media Literacy Predicted the Adoption of Protective Behaviors Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
Journal of health communication, Vol.26(4), pp.239-252
04/03/2021
PMID: 33928871
Abstract
Individuals must navigate complex media environments filled with frequently changing and varyingly credible information to acquire and apply health information during times of uncertainty and danger. A process model tested in two U.S. national surveys in spring (N = 1220) and summer (N = 1264) of 2020 tested how three media literacy constructs (about sources, content, and science information) predicted the adoption of behaviors protective for COVID-19. Results showed that the three media literacy constructs were mediated by knowledge of COVID-19 (wave 1 TE = 0.190; wave 2 TE = 0.190) and expectancies (wave 1 TE = 0.496; wave 2 TE = 0.613). The model was confirmed as largely consistent across the two waves of data collection with independent samples. Results show the importance of expectancies for mediating the effects of media literacy, efficacy, and knowledge on behavior. The study suggests that media literacy and science media literacy skills aid health behavior adoption by contributing to knowledge gain and expectancies.
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Details
- Title
- How Media Literacy and Science Media Literacy Predicted the Adoption of Protective Behaviors Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Creators
- Erica Weintraub Austin - Washington State University, Strategic Communication, Department ofBruce W Austin - Washington State University, Department of Kinesiology and Educational PsychologyJessica Fitts Willoughby - Washington State UniversityOfer Amram - Washington State University, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Department ofShawn Domgaard - Washington State University, Communication and Society, Department of
- Publication Details
- Journal of health communication, Vol.26(4), pp.239-252
- Academic Unit
- Strategic Communication, Department of
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Identifiers
- 99901125938401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article