a Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy and Experimental Psychopathology , Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz , Mainz , Germany.
b Department of Clinical Psychology , Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg , Mannheim , Germany.
Psychol Health. 2018 Mar;33(3):361-380. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2017.1357814. Epub 2017 Jul 31.
Worries about health threatening effects of potential health hazards of modern life (e.g. electric devices and pollution) represent a growing phenomenon in Western countries. Yet, little is known about the causes of this growing special case of affective risk perceptions termed Modern Health Worries (MHW). The purpose of this study is to examine a possible role of biased media reports in the formation of MHW.
In two experiments, we investigated whether typical television reports affect MHW. In Study 1, 130 participants were randomly assigned to a film on idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI) or a control film about cystic fibrosis. In Study 2, 82 participants were randomly assigned to either a film on the dangers of electromagnetic fields or a control condition.
Increases in MHW after sensational media reports.
In Study 1, only participants high on the personality trait of absorption revealed increased MHW after watching the IEI film. In Study 2, specifically worries about radiation were found to be elevated after watching the film on the dangers of electromagnetic fields compared to the control film.
The results of both studies reveal a significant and specific influence of sensational short mass media reports on MHW. The influence of potential moderators such as absorption remains to be clarified.
对现代生活中潜在健康危害（如电器和污染）威胁健康的担忧，代表了西方国家日益增长的现象。然而，对于这种日益特殊的情感风险感知，即现代健康担忧（MHW）的原因，人们知之甚少。本研究的目的是检验媒体报道偏见在 MHW 形成过程中可能起的作用。
在两项实验中，我们调查了典型的电视报道是否会影响 MHW。在研究 1 中，130 名参与者被随机分配观看关于特发性环境过敏（IEI）的电影或关于囊性纤维化的对照电影。在研究 2 中，82 名参与者被随机分配观看关于电磁场危险的电影或对照条件。
媒体报道耸人听闻后 MHW 的增加。
在研究 1 中，只有在吸收人格特质上得分较高的参与者在观看 IEI 电影后，才会增加 MHW。在研究 2 中，与观看对照电影相比，观看电磁场危险电影后，人们对辐射的担忧明显增加。
两项研究的结果都显示了耸人听闻的短期大众媒体报道对 MHW 的显著和特定影响。吸收等潜在调节因素的影响仍需澄清。
