A162.
Rice,
R. E., & Miller, L. B. (2023). Media use, environmental mediators,
and
pro-environmental behaviors across and within countries. Environmental
Communication, 17(2),
187-208. https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2179649
This
study develops a model of direct association of exposure to
environmental media content, and indirect association through
environmental attitude
and environmental efficacy,
with proenvironmental behaviors. It also considers secondary media
roles of exposure
to general news media and involvement in mediated civic activism. The
model and
hypotheses are tested through Hayes Process mediation models, using
secondary,
cross-sectional survey data from 11,000 respondents across 11
countries. The
model is well-supported overall and within countries, and the secondary
media
variables have generally consistent effects within countries.
Socio-demographic covariates have varying
relationships with environmental attitude, environmental efficacy, and
pro-environmental behaviors, overall, and within
countries. In line with social cognitive theory, these results suggest
that
media use related to environmental issues does not have to raise
individuals’ pro-environmental attitude or efficacy (though it does) to
increase engagement in
pro-environmental behavior.
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