How does media attention affect parental response behaviors to telecommunication fraud? Based on the influence of presumed media influence model

Although telecommunications fraud has become a threat to the physical and mental health of children and adolescents, only limited studies have examined behavioral responses to telecommunications fraud of parents who are the primary agents of children’s socialization. Based on the influence of presumed media influence (IPMI) model, this study aims to examine how parents’ attention to telecommunications fraud influences their behavioral responses, including parental mediation and support for school education. A total of 757 parents of primary and middle school students in China have participated in online questionnaire survey. This study used the structural equation modeling to analyze the data. The results indicated that parents’ attention to telecommunications fraud was positively associated with their presumed influence on others’ children, which in turn positively affected parental active and restrictive mediation as well as support for school education. The findings of the present study highlighted the effects of parents’ attention and presumed influence on others on their behavioral responses. Theoretical implications for extending applicable contexts and developing the behavioral responses of the IPMI model were discussed. Practical implications for parents, schools, online health campaigns, and non-governmental organizations in protecting children and adolescents from negative effects induced by telecommunications fraud were also discussed.