Media literacy's role in the mitigation of disinformation effects on substance misuse

Erica W. W. Austin; Porismita Borah; Bruce W. W. Austin; Crystal L. L. Smith; Ofer Amram; Shawn Domgaard; Sterling M. M. McPherson; Jessica F. F. Willoughby

doi:10.1080/14659891.2023.2183150

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Media literacy's role in the mitigation of disinformation effects on substance misuse

Journal article

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Media literacy's role in the mitigation of disinformation effects on substance misuse

Erica W. W. Austin, Porismita Borah, Bruce W. W. Austin, Crystal L. L. Smith, Ofer Amram, Shawn Domgaard, Sterling M. M. McPherson and Jessica F. F. Willoughby

Journal of substance use, Vol.ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), pp.1-7

02/25/2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14659891.2023.2183150

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Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Science & Technology

Substance Abuse

Objective: Misinformation and substance use both increased substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined potential links between misinformation beliefs and substance use among adults, along with the potential for media literacy to mitigate misinformation's influences on problematic use of widely available substances of misuse. Method: Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test a theoretical model of media literacy's effects on substance use, fully mediated by disinformation beliefs, with a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults recruited through a Qualtrics panel of adults using census-based quotas for geographic region, population density, ethnic diversity and gender (N = 1264). The sample was 51.5% male (N = 651); 46.7% female (N = 591); 1.1% nonbinary (N = 13); and 0.7% (N = 9) not reporting. Results: Media literacy for source of news positively associated with media literacy for content of news (b = 0.814, p < 0.001). Media literacy for content of news then positively associated with science media literacy (b = 0.192, p < 0.001). Science media literacy then negatively associated with disinformation beliefs (b = -0.586, p < 0.001), and COVID-19 disinformation beliefs associated with an increase in substance use (b = 0.466, p < 0.001). Disinformation beliefs also associated with alcohol and sleep medication co-use (odds = 1.956, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Results demonstrate media literacy's value for substance misuse prevention and effective public health messaging.

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Title: Media literacy's role in the mitigation of disinformation effects on substance misuse
Creators: Erica W. W. Austin - Washington State University, Strategic Communication, Department of
Porismita Borah - Washington State University, Strategic Communication, Department of
Bruce W. W. Austin - Washington State Univ, Dept Kinesiol & Educ Psychol, Pullman, WA USA
Crystal L. L. Smith - Washington State University, Health Policy and Administration, Department of
Ofer Amram - Washington State University, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Department of
Shawn Domgaard - Washington State University, Communication and Society, Department of
Sterling M. M. McPherson - Washington State Univ, Elson S Floyd Coll Med, Spokane, WA USA
Jessica F. F. Willoughby - Washington State University
Publication Details: Journal of substance use, Vol.ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), pp.1-7
Academic Unit: Edward R. Murrow College of Communication
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Number of pages: 7
Identifiers: 99901125939101842
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article