Effects of Mass Media Exposure and Social Network Site Involvement on Risk Perception of and Precautionary Behavior Toward the Haze Issue in China

Xiaohua WU; Xigen LI

Effects of Mass Media Exposure and Social Network Site Involvement on Risk Perception of and Precautionary Behavior Toward the Haze Issue in China

Department of Media and Communication

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

555 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

This study examines the effects of mass media exposure and social network site (SNS) involvement on risk perception of and precautionary behavior toward the haze issue in China. It also tests the impersonal impact hypothesis and the differential impact hypothesis in the context of social media communication. SNS involvement is found to be a stronger predictor of risk perception than mass media exposure. Both mass media exposure and SNS involvement mediate the effect of direct experience on risk perception. The impersonal impact hypothesis, which assumes that media differentially affects social risk perception and personal risk perception, is not confirmed, while the differential impact hypothesis is supported. Personal risk perception mediates the effect of mass media exposure and SNS involvement on precautionary behavior. The findings clarify the inconsistency in the effect of interpersonal communication on perceived personal risk and suggest an interplay of the predictors of precautionary behavior.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3975-3997
Journal	International Journal of Communication
Volume	11
Publication status	Published - 2017

Bibliographical note

Full text of this publication does not contain sufficient affiliation information. With consent from the author(s) concerned, the Research Unit(s) information for this record is based on the existing academic department affiliation of the author(s).

Research Keywords

Mass media exposure
Precautionary behavior
Risk perception
SNS involvement
Vulnerability

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/6529

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title = "Effects of Mass Media Exposure and Social Network Site Involvement on Risk Perception of and Precautionary Behavior Toward the Haze Issue in China",

abstract = "This study examines the effects of mass media exposure and social network site (SNS) involvement on risk perception of and precautionary behavior toward the haze issue in China. It also tests the impersonal impact hypothesis and the differential impact hypothesis in the context of social media communication. SNS involvement is found to be a stronger predictor of risk perception than mass media exposure. Both mass media exposure and SNS involvement mediate the effect of direct experience on risk perception. The impersonal impact hypothesis, which assumes that media differentially affects social risk perception and personal risk perception, is not confirmed, while the differential impact hypothesis is supported. Personal risk perception mediates the effect of mass media exposure and SNS involvement on precautionary behavior. The findings clarify the inconsistency in the effect of interpersonal communication on perceived personal risk and suggest an interplay of the predictors of precautionary behavior.",

keywords = "Mass media exposure, Precautionary behavior, Risk perception, SNS involvement, Vulnerability",

author = "Xiaohua WU and Xigen LI",

note = "Full text of this publication does not contain sufficient affiliation information. With consent from the author(s) concerned, the Research Unit(s) information for this record is based on the existing academic department affiliation of the author(s).",

year = "2017",

language = "English",

volume = "11",

pages = "3975--3997",

journal = "International Journal of Communication",

issn = "1932-8036",

publisher = "USC ANNENBERG PRESS",

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T1 - Effects of Mass Media Exposure and Social Network Site Involvement on Risk Perception of and Precautionary Behavior Toward the Haze Issue in China

AU - WU, Xiaohua

AU - LI, Xigen

N1 - Full text of this publication does not contain sufficient affiliation information. With consent from the author(s) concerned, the Research Unit(s) information for this record is based on the existing academic department affiliation of the author(s).

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - This study examines the effects of mass media exposure and social network site (SNS) involvement on risk perception of and precautionary behavior toward the haze issue in China. It also tests the impersonal impact hypothesis and the differential impact hypothesis in the context of social media communication. SNS involvement is found to be a stronger predictor of risk perception than mass media exposure. Both mass media exposure and SNS involvement mediate the effect of direct experience on risk perception. The impersonal impact hypothesis, which assumes that media differentially affects social risk perception and personal risk perception, is not confirmed, while the differential impact hypothesis is supported. Personal risk perception mediates the effect of mass media exposure and SNS involvement on precautionary behavior. The findings clarify the inconsistency in the effect of interpersonal communication on perceived personal risk and suggest an interplay of the predictors of precautionary behavior.

AB - This study examines the effects of mass media exposure and social network site (SNS) involvement on risk perception of and precautionary behavior toward the haze issue in China. It also tests the impersonal impact hypothesis and the differential impact hypothesis in the context of social media communication. SNS involvement is found to be a stronger predictor of risk perception than mass media exposure. Both mass media exposure and SNS involvement mediate the effect of direct experience on risk perception. The impersonal impact hypothesis, which assumes that media differentially affects social risk perception and personal risk perception, is not confirmed, while the differential impact hypothesis is supported. Personal risk perception mediates the effect of mass media exposure and SNS involvement on precautionary behavior. The findings clarify the inconsistency in the effect of interpersonal communication on perceived personal risk and suggest an interplay of the predictors of precautionary behavior.

KW - Mass media exposure

KW - Precautionary behavior

KW - Risk perception

KW - SNS involvement

KW - Vulnerability

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85047977174

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85047977174&origin=recordpage

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1932-8036

VL - 11

SP - 3975

EP - 3997

JO - International Journal of Communication

JF - International Journal of Communication

ER -

Effects of Mass Media Exposure and Social Network Site Involvement on Risk Perception of and Precautionary Behavior Toward the Haze Issue in China

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

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GRF: Media Exposure and Protective Behaviors in a Public Health Emergency

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Effects of Mass Media Exposure and Social Network Site Involvement on Risk Perception of and Precautionary Behavior Toward the Haze Issue in China

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Projects

GRF: Media Exposure and Protective Behaviors in a Public Health Emergency

Cite this